Bangladesh and Sri Lanka find themselves entrenched in the lower echelons of the World Cup standings. With their hopes set on securing a place in the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, a palpable tension envelops these teams. But ironically, it’s the atmospheric conditions that pose a new threat to their match on Monday.
The World Cup clash, scheduled to be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, faces uncertainty due to rapidly rising pollution levels and a concerning Air Quality Index (AQI). The game hangs in the balance as the heavy pollution in Delhi raises concerns about the players’ well-being.
Bangladesh commenced their World Cup campaign with a victory but have since suffered six consecutive losses, including a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan in their last game. They were the first team to be eliminated from the tournament, a significant disappointment given the pre-tournament expectations. With more than pride at stake, Bangladesh need to deliver a strong performance in this crucial match.
The team’s recent struggles can be largely attributed to the underwhelming performance of their batsmen. The absence of Tamim Iqbal, a stabilising force in the top order over the years, has been sorely felt. Litton Das, heralded as a rising star of the new Bangladesh team, has displayed inconsistency in this tournament. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the team’s leading run-scorer in 2023, has struggled to replicate his earlier success on the global stage, and Tanzid Hasan has failed to capitalise on the opportunities provided by the selectors.
This has intensified the pressure on veterans like Shakib Al Hasan, the captain, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim to carry the burden of scoring runs. The challenges extend to the bowling unit as well, where Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed have encountered difficulties with both the new ball and during the death overs. Among the bowlers, Shoriful Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have been the only ones to make a notable impact on the proceedings.
Sri Lanka, too, have faced a challenging World Cup campaign, securing only two wins in seven matches. While they still retain a mathematical probability of reaching the semifinals, their recent 302-run loss to India marked one of their worst defeats in nearly half a century of international cricket.
The Sri Lankan campaign has been marred by injuries right from the beginning. Key players such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Matheesha Pathirana, and Lahiru Kumara have been forced to pull out at various stages, significantly weakening the squad. Despite these adversities, there are a few bright spots for Sri Lanka. Dilshan Madushanka, in particular, claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul during the match against India and is among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama have displayed consistent batting performances in recent weeks. On the other hand, Kusal Mendis, who initially showed promise, has struggled to score since taking over the captaincy from the injured Shanaka. To get back to winning ways, Sri Lanka must put in a substantial effort.
In head-to-head encounters, Bangladesh have a poor record against Sri Lanka, having lost six of their last eight games. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan team is also not in the best frame of mind, setting the stage for what is expected to be a closely contested match.
Time and Venue Details
November 6, 2023, 14:00 IST, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Expected conditions
The temperature is expected to be around 30C at the start of play, and the pitch in Delhi has largely been full of runs. Unfortunately, most attention will be on the Air Quality Index, which is expected to show a ‘dangerous’ reading.
Possible XIs
Bangladesh: Throughout the tournament, Bangladesh have rarely opted for significant alterations, and despite their underwhelming displays, it wouldn’t be surprising if they stick with the same lineup for this upcoming fixture.
Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.
Sri Lanka: Considering the limited alternatives available in their squad due to injuries, there’s a likelihood that de Silva may rejoin the team for this match, especially after a dismal performance that resulted in a total of 55 runs.
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.
Matchup
Dilshan Madushanka vs Litton Das: Despite the team’s challenging day against India, Madushanka delivered a memorable five-wicket performance, a bright spot for his side in the tournament. The left-arm pacer has demonstrated a remarkable ability to secure early wickets with the new ball, making his clash with Litton Das during the powerplay especially significant. Litton, who has struggled with the bat in this tournament, should be cautious of the threat posed by Madushanka’s early wicket-taking ability.
Team speak
“Their skill hasn’t gone anywhere, whatever is going through our heads is the only thing that is disturbing us. We haven’t shown what we are capable of. For some reason we have gone into a shell, especially in batting. That is what we need to fix and come and play fearless cricket.” – Chandika Hathurusingha, Bangladesh coach.