By Srian Obeyesekere
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Despite a head to head 12 wins to 8 from 20 advantageSri Lanka fronts a daunting hurdle of having to surmount the blackening of three defeats out of their last four meetings against Bangladesh in their opening Asia Cup match today at Abu Dhabi at 8 p.m. following a 2-1 home T20 series defeat when they last met this year as well as defeat in their world cup matchf last year in the United States where one false step would put them on the back foot to making the top two in a tough three cornered super four in a Group B face off where a rampant Afghanistan: poses a tough challenge to making the final two in their group.

Sri Lanka will be boosted by the comeback from injury of wily leg spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga while new discovery the hard hitting 24 year old Kamil Mishara at the pivotal No 3 slot is expected to plug the batting department where Sri Lanka is expected to go with an otherwise regular line up of the inform Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis upfront with Kamindu Mendis at four with Kusal Janith Perera likely to get the nod in the wake of his match winning 46 versus Zimbabwe while skipper Charith Asalanka packs fire in the middle.
It would be interesting to see whether the inform Janith Liyanage would be preferred over Dasun Shanaka while in the bowling the Lankan skipper has hinted he would opt for three quicks in Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando and Nuwan Thushara.

Bangladesh is expected to keep faith in their winning combination against Hong Kong led by the inform wicket keeper batsman Litton Das who is credited with having brought about a marked change in the side since taking over the reins in leading from the front by a positive approach to his batting as was evidenced in the series triumph against Sri Lanka. He is set to become Bangladesh’s highest T20 run getter needing 56 more to get there.