DHAKA, – Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and asked Bangladesh to bat first in their first game of the Super 12 of Twenty20 World Cup at Sharjah in United Arab Emirates (UAE) today. Considering the wicket will favour the spinners, Bangladesh brought up left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, leaving fast bowler Taskin Ahmed out.

Taskin played Bangladesh’s all three matches in the qualifying round in which they made a shocking start, losing to Scotland by six runs before hitting back with the 26-run and 97-run win against co-hosts Oman and Papua New Guinea respectively. “We would have liked to bat first,” Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad said after losing the toss. “We need to adapt to the conditions. Hopefully, it’s a good one to bat on. A bit of a relief after that first loss (against Scotland). The boys are relaxed.

We have got one change as Taskin Ahmed is not playing.” Sri Lanka who won the all three matches in the qualifying round forced to make one change with mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana being unfit. Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka informed that Binura Fernando replaced him for this match. “After the IPL, it seems the wicket is keeping down a bit,” Shanaka said. “It’s been a really good team environment after winning three games and practice matches. Maheesh Theekshana is not fit. Binura Fernando comes in for him.”

Bangladesh however is searching their first victory beyond the qualifying round since their win against West Indies in 2007 T20 World Cup. They are oozing with confidence, largely due to their win against Sri Lanka in the last two meetings in this format.

Line Ups: Bangladesh: Liton Das, Naim Sheikh, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad (captain), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando.