Bangladeshi cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2020–21

The Bangladesh cricket team toured Sri Lanka in April and May 2021 to play two Test matches.[1] The Test series formed part of the inaugural 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship.[2]

Bangladeshi cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2020–21
 
  Sri Lanka Bangladesh
Dates 21 April – 3 May 2021
Captains Dimuth Karunaratne Mominul Haque
Test series
Result Sri Lanka won the 2-match series 1–0
Most runs Dimuth Karunaratne (428) Tamim Iqbal (280)
Most wickets Praveen Jayawickrama (11) Taskin Ahmed (8)
Taijul Islam (8)
Player of the series Dimuth Karunaratne (SL)

Originally, a three-Test tour was scheduled to take place in July and August 2020,[3][4] but it was postponed to October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] In September 2020, the tour was postponed again, after both boards could not agree on the quarantine requirements for the series.[7][8] In December 2020, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were considering touring Sri Lanka in April 2021 to play two Test matches.[9] In February 2021, the BCB confirmed that the tour of Sri Lanka would take place in April.[10] On 19 March 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the dates for the tour.[11]

The first Test match finished as a high-scoring draw,[12] after rain wiped out the final session on the fifth day.[13] Sri Lanka won the second Test by 209 runs to win the series 1–0.[14]

Background

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In May 2020, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, CEO of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), confirmed that they were in discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with regards to playing the series.[15] Nazmul Hasan, President of the BCB, suggested that their priorities are ICC events, and will wait to see what the ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) does first.[16] However, on 24 June 2020, the tour was postponed due to the pandemic.[17] In July 2020, both cricket boards were looking at the possibility of rescheduling the tour for October 2020.[6] Also in July 2020, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed it was their priority to reschedule the matches, along with the five other World Test Championship series that had been postponed due to the pandemic.[18]

In August 2020, both cricket boards were looking to play a combination of Test matches and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, with a possible start date in October 2020.[19] On 12 August 2020, the BCB confirmed they would travel to Sri Lanka, leaving for the country on 23 September 2020.[20] On 12 September 2020, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that the Bangladesh team would need to quarantine for one week on arrival in the country before they can begin to train.[21] The following day, Sri Lanka Cricket increased the quarantine period to 14 days,[22] with the BCB disagreeing to the length of time their players would be quarantine and the lack of preparation time ahead of the first Test match.[23] In response, Sri Lanka Cricket suggested that the quarantine could be split into two phases, with seven days done in Bangladesh, and the remaining seven days done once the team arrives in Sri Lanka.[24]

On 19 September 2020, Bangladesh named a preliminary squad of 27 players to begin training ahead of the tour.[25] However, the following day, one player had to isolate after showing COVID-19 symptoms, along with anyone who came into close contact with him.[26] On 28 September 2020, the tour was postponed again as both boards could not decide on quarantine requirements for the series. SLC insisted on a 14-day quarantine following guidelines from the Sri Lanka government, while the BCB insisted on a shorter length.[7]

In December 2020, the BCB began talks with Sri Lanka Cricket tour play a short tour in April 2021.[27] Instead of the original three Tests that were scheduled to be played, the revised tour would have two Test matches, with the possibility of some white-ball matches as well.[28] In February 2021, the BCB allowed Shakib Al Hasan to miss the tour, allowing him to take part in the 2021 Indian Premier League,[29] with the BCB confirming that the tour will take place in April.[30] The following month, the BCB announced that the 2020–21 National Cricket League (NCL) tournament would be used as preparation for the Test matches.[31] However, after only two rounds of matches, the NCL was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[32] Despite the curtailment of the tournament, the BCB were still hopeful of touring Sri Lanka.[33] On 12 April 2021, the Bangladesh cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka.[34]

Squads

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Tests
  Sri Lanka[35]   Bangladesh[36]

On 9 April 2021, the BCB announced a 21-man preliminary squad for the two Test matches.[37][38] The final 15-man squad for the Test series was confirmed following the two-day inter-squad warm-up match.[39] Sri Lanka also named a preliminary squad,[40] with bowler Dushmantha Chameera opting out of the tour due to taking paternity leave.[41] Lahiru Kumara suffered an injury during the third day of the first Test, and was ruled out of Sri Lanka's squad for the remainder of the series.[42] On 26 April 2021, Lakshan Sandakan and Chamika Karunaratne were named as replacements for Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka in Sri Lanaka's squad.[43]

Warm-up match

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17–18 April 2021
Scorecard
v
314/6d (79.2 overs)
Mushfiqur Rahim 66 (82)
Shuvagata Hom 1/46 (11.2 overs)
225 (71 overs)
Litton Das 64
Mehidy Hasan 3/41
  • Toss uncontested.

Test series

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1st Test

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21–25 April 2021
Scorecard
v
541/7d (173 overs)
Najmul Hossain Shanto 163 (378)
Vishwa Fernando 4/96 (35 overs)
648/8d (179 overs)
Dimuth Karunaratne 244 (437)
Taskin Ahmed 3/112 (30 overs)
100/2 (33 overs)
Tamim Iqbal 74* (98)
Suranga Lakmal 2/21 (8 overs)
  • Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat.
  • 25 overs of play were lost on day 2 due to bad light.
  • No play was possible after tea on day 5 due to rain.
  • Najmul Hossain Shanto (Ban) scored his first century in Tests.[44]
  • Dimuth Karunaratne (SL) scored his first double century in Tests.[45]
  • World Test Championship points: Sri Lanka 20, Bangladesh 20.

2nd Test

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29 April–3 May 2021
Scorecard
v
493/7d (159.2 overs)
Lahiru Thirimanne 140 (298)
Taskin Ahmed 4/127 (34.2 overs)
251 (83 overs)
Tamim Iqbal 92 (150)
Praveen Jayawickrama 6/92 (32 overs)
194/9d (42.2 overs)
Dimuth Karunaratne 66 (78)
Taijul Islam 5/72 (19.2 overs)
227 (71 overs)
Mushfiqur Rahim 40 (63)
Praveen Jayawickrama 5/86 (32 overs)
Sri Lanka won by 209 runs
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SL) and Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SL)
Player of the match: Praveen Jayawickrama (SL)

References

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  1. ^ "Bangladesh likely to play Sri Lanka Tests in second week of April". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Schedule for inaugural World Test Championship announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Full schedule of Bangladesh cricket team in 2020 including Test series against Australia with Shakib Al Hasan banned". The National. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka postponed". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka could be rescheduled to October". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka postponed again as stalemate over quarantine continues". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka postponed again". Sport Star. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  9. ^ "BCB consider two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in April". CricBuzz. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Bangladesh confirm Sri Lanka Test tour in April". CricBuzz. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka 2021: Two Match Test Series". Sri Lanka Cricket. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Rain takes over after breezy Tamim Iqbal fifty as first Test ends in high-scoring stalemate". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Batsmen shine as high-scoring Pallekele Test ends in draw". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Cricket-Jayawickrama bowls Lanka to series victory in dream test debut". Yahoo! Sport. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Cricket might resume in Sri Lanka in July with India, Bangladesh series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  16. ^ "BCB President not convinced about Sri Lanka tour yet". The Papare. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Bangladesh postpone Sri Lanka tour due to Covid-19 pandemic". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  18. ^ "World Test Championship progressing as planned, says ICC". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Bangladesh could tour Sri Lanka for Tests and additional three T20Is in October". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Bangladesh to go to Sri Lanka on September 23". BD Crictime. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  21. ^ "BCB CEO: SLC says Bangladesh need one week quarantine in Sri Lanka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  22. ^ "SLC restrictions on touring party puts BCB in dilemma". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  23. ^ "BCB president Nazmul Hassan says no to SLC's 14-day quarantine requirement". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Sri Lanka Cricket proposes split quarantine to Bangladesh Cricket Board". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Mahmudullah and Rubel hossain in expanded Bangladesh training squad for possible Sri Lanka tour". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  26. ^ "Bangladesh player shows 'classical Covid-like symptoms', isolated from training camp". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Bangladesh Cricket Board contemplate two-Test tour of Lanka in April". India Blooms. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  28. ^ "BCB contemplate two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in April". UNI India. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  29. ^ "BCB allows Shakib Al Hasan to miss Sri Lanka Tests for IPL". ESPN Cricinfo. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  30. ^ "SL-Bangladesh Tests to be played at one venue". BD Crictime. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  31. ^ "BCB mandates NCL participation for Bangladesh Test probables". CricBuzz. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  32. ^ "NCL 2021 matches postponed amid surge in Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  33. ^ "BCB still hopeful of Sri Lanka tour despite lockdown". CricBuzz. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Bangladesh arrives in Sri Lanka for two-match Test series". The Hindu. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Sri Lanka announces 18-man squad for Bangladesh Test series". Cricket Times. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  36. ^ "Uncapped Shoriful in Bangladesh squad for first Sri Lanka Test". BD Crictime. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Uncapped Mukidul, Shohidul in Bangladesh 21-player Test squad that will travel to Sri Lanka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  38. ^ "Media Release : Bangladesh Preliminary Squad for Tour of Sri Lanka 2021 announced". Bangladesh Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Shoriful Islam included in Bangladesh squad for first Sri Lanka Test". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  40. ^ "Dushmantha Chameera withdraws from SL Test squad due to personal reasons". Nation.lk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Moody attends Lankan team selection meeting, Chameera seeks paternity leave". BD Crictime. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  42. ^ "Lahiru Kumara ruled out of Bangladesh Tests due to hamstring injury". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  43. ^ "Lakshan Sandakan and Chamika Karunaratne added to Sri Lanka Test Squad". Sri Lanka Cricket. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  44. ^ "Maiden century from Shanto gives Bangladesh strong start". BD News24. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  45. ^ "Dimuth Karunaratne hits double century". Daily News. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  46. ^ "Karunaratne joins Sri Lanka's 10-man 5000 Test-run club". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  47. ^ "Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka still have the edge over Bangladesh". Cricket World. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  48. ^ "Statistics / Statsguru / Test matches / Bowling records". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Praveen Jayawickrama's stunning debut seals Sri Lanka's dominant victory". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
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