Tigers face new-look SL

Bangladesh will be desperate to start the process of transforming themselves into a proper Test unit when they face Sri Lanka in the first match of the two-Test series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.   

The match is scheduled to begin at 10am [BST].

Since their historic win against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui earlier this year, Mominul Haque and his troops have been unable to live up to expectations. They were outplayed in the two-match Test series in South Africa in April.

The hosts will be without two of their crucial cogs of the bowling department – pacer Taskin Ahmed and Mehedi Hasan Miraz -- due to injuries. However, Bangladesh will be boosted by the presence of Shakib Al Hasan, who was supposed to miss the Test due to Covid-19, as the premier all-rounder is confirmed to start today after testing negative in his latest Covid test.

A young Sri Lankan side, on the other hand, will begin a new journey under head coach Chris Silverwood. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne is expected to add some experience along with the likes of Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva and Lahiru Thirimanne in the team.

The Lankan team will also be in focus as the country has been going through a huge political and economic crisis in recent times.

Meanwhile, there is a heavy chance of rain disrupting the most of the five-day contest despite the severe cyclone, brewing in the Bay of Bengal, weakening into a cyclonic storm a couple of days back.