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Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will renew their heated rivalry in the Asia Cup 2025 with a crucial group stage contest on Saturday, September 13, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Sri Lanka will be looking to start their campaign with a win as they aim to build momentum in a tournament where they are top contenders meanwhile Bangladesh will aim for second consecutive victory after defeating Hong Kong by 7 wickets. While Sri Lanka holds the historical advantage in T20I clashes, Bangladesh have recently shown the ability to overcome their rivals, setting the stage for an intense battle between two evenly matched sides.
Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka’s campaign and star players
Sri Lanka will be eager to assert their dominance and begin their campaign with a statement victory. The team, led by captain Charith Asalanka, is a well-balanced unit with a mix of consistent performers and match-winning all-rounders. Their top order, featuring the likes of Pathum Nissanka and the explosive Kusal Mendis, has been in great form, providing the team with strong starts. The bowling attack is formidable, spearheaded by the pace of Matheesha Pathirana and the spin wizardry of Wanindu Hasaranga, who returns to the squad from injury. The combination of experience and youthful energy makes Sri Lanka a well-rounded contender, but they will be wary of underestimating their determined opponents, who have a history of causing upsets.
Asia Cup 2025: Bangladesh’s fighting spirit and player battles
For the Bangladesh team, this game is an opportunity to prove their mettle against a strong rival. As a side known for its fighting spirit, they are entering the spotlight with a renewed sense of confidence. The Bangladesh cricket team has a lot of experience playing in the UAE and will be counting on their fiery pace attack, featuring Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, to get early breakthroughs. Skipper Litton Das is expected to lead from the front with the bat, supported by reliable middle-order batters like Towhid Hridoy. The rivalry between these two teams is intense, and the match will serve as a high-stakes encounter where both sides will look to gain an early psychological advantage.
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BAN vs SL head-to-head record in T20Is:
Matches Played: 20 | Sri Lanka won: 12 | Bangladesh won: 8 | No results: 0
BAN vs SL, Probable XI of both teams:
Bangladesh: Litton Das (c & wk), Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Shakib Al Hasan
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka (c), Kusal Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera
Also READ: Asia Cup 2025: Not Rashid Khan! Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson picks the ‘best spinner’ at present
