In curtain raiser of Triangular Series:”
Sri Lanka confront Bangladesh today
India will be keen to extend their impressive run in a triangular
series starting in Dhaka on Monday and boost their hopes of becoming the
top-ranked side in one-day cricket.
They have won six of their last seven bilateral one-day series under
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and a title-triumph here against a new-look Sri
Lanka and a resurgent Bangladesh will help them narrow the gap against
leaders Australia.
Dhoni’s men are currently the top-ranked team in Test cricket and
number two behind the Aussies in one-day internationals. And although
they cannot overtake the Australians in this series, India are hoping to
close in on their rivals.
The tournament opens on Monday with a day-night clash between Sri
Lanka and the hosts Bangladesh. Each team will play four league matches
before the top two qualify for the final on January 13.
India vice-captain Virender Sehwag said ahead of the series his team
were focused on maintaining consistency.
“If we win the series, the rankings will look after themselves,” he
said.
“We have been playing very tough and good cricket for the last two
years. So, hopefully we will do well in 2010. “It’s important for the
team to play well consistently. We hope to do well and win the series
here.”
India will be without batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar, who has
been rested for the one-dayers, but they still have depth in batting to
give a good account of themselves.
India, who beat Sri Lanka in both Test and one-day series at home
recently, have explosive batsmen in Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh
and Dhoni to dominate any attack.
Sehwag said Sri Lanka were a tough side to beat despite missing
veterans Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Opener Jayasuriya, the world’s second-highest scorer with 13,428
one-day runs, was dropped, while spinner Muralitharan and batsman
Jayawardene have yet to recover from injuries picked up during the India
tour. “I think Sri Lanka still are a good side and Bangladesh can also
beat any team. We are not taking them lightly,” said Sehwag.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said his side could make it to the
final despite missing skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and key seamer Nazmul
Hossain due to injuries. Top all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will lead the
team, while Shahadat Hossain replaces Nazmal.
“Sri Lanka have brought a team below their best. They have left a few
top players behind. We’ll be competitive against them and can push them
hard. Hopefully, we’ll beat them,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh were now a better batting side and would
also be “competitive” against favourites India.
The series will be a real test for Bangladesh, who will be keen to
build on their one-day successes last year. Bangladesh clinched their
one-day series against below-strength West Indies and Zimbabwe in 2009
under Shakib, who led the side in the absence of Mortaza.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt) Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Ashraful,
Tamim Iqbal, Roqibul Hassan, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Naeem Islam, Abdur
Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Imrul Kayes,
Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Shafiul Islam.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul
Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Silva, Lahiru
Thirimanne, Thissara Perera, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Malinga Bandara,
Suraj Randiv, Thilan Thushara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka
Welagedera.
DHAKA, Sunday AFP |