Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, BAN vs SL 2024, Today Match Prediction 22 March 2024

BAN vs SL Match Prediction & Analysis

=-0=09You could make a decent argument for saying that many of the players involved in this two-match Test series would sooner be playing in the 2024 IPL, but for fans of red-ball international cricket, this series provides a welcome diversion from the thrills, spills, glamour and noise of the action in India!

These two countries have both played the smallest number of Tests (2) so far in this WTC cycle, but with the table determined by points percentage, Bangladesh find themselves in fourth place (50%) with Sri Lanka propping up the table in ninth on 0%.

But forget all that background, this is likely to be a typical Test in Bangladesh, full of low bounce and a turning wicket. And you know what, it is likely to be very entertaining!

RECENT PERFORMANCE

BAN

L W W

BAN

172/10 in 66.2 2.59

BAN vs NZ

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets 06 Dec 2023

NZ

139/6 in 39.4 3.5

BAN

310/10 in 85.1 3.64

BAN vs NZ

Bangladesh won by 150 runs 28 Nov 2023

NZ

181/10 in 71.1 2.54

BAN

382/10 in 86.0 4.44

BAN vs AFG

Bangladesh won by 546 runs

14 Jun 2023

AFG

425/4 in 80.0 5.31

SL

W

SL

439/10 in 109.2 4.02

SL vs AFG 2024

Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets 02 Feb 2024

AFG

56/0 in 7.2 7.64

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Bangladesh Preview

This is Bangladesh's first venture into Test cricket in 2024 and Allan Donald's side will be looking to build on their progress in the format in 2023. Although they lost their final Test of last year, it was a narrow 4 wicket loss to New Zealand who they had beaten by a very comfortable 150 runs the previous week. And this victory should not be under-played as the Black Caps won the inaugural WTC!

Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue to lead this side which has a refreshing and youthful look with many of the big name players who have carried the Tigers over the last decade making way.

With this new generation of Bangladesh players to the fore, we can expect to see Mahmudul Hasan Joy with the bat and Shoriful Islam with the ball leading the way.

Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI:

Litton Das (wk), Shan Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shahadat Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed

Bangladesh Actual Playing XI:

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Shahadat Hossain, Nahid Rana, Mehidy Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Litton Das, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed

Sri Lanka Preview

This will be Sri Lanka's second Test of 2024 and they will be keen to carry on where they left off in early February when they thrashed Afghanistan by 10 wickets in Colombo with left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya taking the Player of the Match Award after recording figures of 3/67 and 5/107.

The last six months has seen the return of Angelo Mathews to an all-format role for Sri Lanka and, withstanding his timed out dismissal in the 2023 World Cup (against Bangladesh let's not forget!), it has been a fine return at the highest level for the all-rounder. This was best shown against Afghanistan when he hit 141, top scoring in his side's 439.

Sri Lanka have an excellent record against Bangladesh in Test cricket but they will be without all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga who would have been very useful in Sylhet but is serving a suspension from international cricket after showing dissent during the last ODI between the sides on March 18th.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama. Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka Actual Playing XI:

Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Although highs of 28 degrees and no rain is forecast for Day 1 on Friday, the following four days are expected to be punctuated by thunderstorms and rain showers. Unsurprisingly, there will be plenty of humidity across all five days of the Test - it's going to be sticky in Sylhet!

BAN vs SL Pitch Report

This will be only the third Test Match ever to be played in Sylhet with the previous two both beginning in November (2023 & 2018) and the winning margins very similar (150 & 151 runs!). In both games, batting became very tough by the fourth innings of the match and we expect more of the same in this Test with a first innings par score likely to be around 300-320.

Toss: To Bat

We can expect the wicket at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium to take more spin as the game progresses and Friday's weather looks to be the most consistent of the Test so both sides will want to bat first and have the opportunity to post a big but patient score over the opening couple of days.