Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews boards the team bus to the airport yesterday

Sri Lanka cricketers Oshada Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva leave SLC headquarters to board the team bus 

• Sri Lanka cricket team leaves for two-Test tour

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Former Sri Lanka captain and the most experienced player of the team with 94 Test caps Angelo Mathews said that Sri Lanka will need to play their A game if they are to beat Bangladesh on their own soil.

“Bangladesh is a very strong team and if you are going to take them lightly you are only fooling yourself. You need to play your A game to beat them and to do that we’ve got to perform really well,” said Mathews on the eve of the team’s departure to Bangladesh yesterday morning.

Sri Lanka will play a two-Test series against Bangladesh starting on 15 March which is part of the ICC Test Championships.

“We’ve got the skill and the talent. What we need is to go out there and execute the plans. The Bangladeshis have been playing extremely well and we hope to beat them on their home turf. I am sure that we will do that,” said Mathews.

“We have a rather young side to start with, a blend of youth and experience but it is not an excuse. As this series is part of the World Test Championship series we are determined to do well.”

Sri Lanka are currently lying fifth in the standings with 24 points having played two series and won two matches and lost two. Bangladesh are eighth in the table with 12 points after three series with one win and five losses.

The Sri Lanka team of 18 players was sans captain Dimuth Karunaratne and all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne. Dimuth is currently playing for Yorkshire in the English County Championships and Chamika is with Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL tournament in India. They are due to join the team directly in Bangladesh before the start of the first Test starting on 15 May at Chattogram. The second Test is scheduled from 23 May at Dhaka.

Sri Lanka are due to play a two-day warm-up game on 11 and 12 May at Chattogram before the commencement of the Test series.

Sri Lanka Test team to Bangladesh

Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Suminda Lakshan, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Chris Silverwood (head coach), Naveed Nawaz (assistant coach/batting coach), Piyal Wijetunge (spin bowling coach), Dharshana Gamage (fast bowling coach), Manoj Abeywickrama (fielding and support coach), and Mahinda Halangoda (manager).

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