‘No chance to take Bangladesh lightly’

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne reiterated that his team will not be taking Bangladesh lightly when they take on the visitors in the first ODI on Friday.

Both the teams have had a mixed World Cup campaign in England and will be looking to draw first blood by winning the first ODI. The Tigers are without veterans Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza in this series but Karunaratne said that the players who replaced the two are also formidable opponents.

"Bangladesh has really played good cricket in the last few years. Shakib and Mashrafe have really done well in the World Cup. But I think the players who have replaced them, have got the talent as well, they have done really well for the Bangladesh team."

Bangladesh are eyeing their first-ever ODI series win in Sri Lanka and the last time the two sides met, Mushfiqur Rahim struck a magnificent 144 to help the Tigers to a 137-run win in the Asia Cup at UAE last year.

"They [Bangladesh] are a very good team. Against them, we have to play at our best and there is no chance to take them lightly. We have to play at our capacity and I hope it will be a good match tomorrow," Karunaratne concluded.