Bangladesh opt to bat first, Saifuddin debuts

Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first in the first T20 against Sri Lanka, perhaps out of a preference to get runs on the board before possible showers interrupt play later in the evening. Mashrafe also announced at the toss that this series will be his final T20I outing.

Both sides chose to strengthen their seam-bowling stocks on a Khettarama deck with an uncharacteristic grass covering – thin though it is. Right-arm quick Mohammad Saifuddin debuted for Bangladesh, coming into the attack in place of offspinner Mehedi Hasan. Saifuddin was picked as part of a four-man pace attack, which also featured Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and captain Mashrafe.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, chose to field swing bowler Vikum Sanjaya and omitted the specialist spin of Lakshan Sandakan. Their seam-bowling options included Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera. Allrounders Seekkuge Prasanna and Milinda Siriwardana provided the primary spin options.

Rain may make an appearance after 8pm. There have been sporadic evening thunderstorms in Colombo over the past few weeks.

Sri Lanka: 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Dilshan Munaweera, 3 Upul Tharanga (capt), 4 Chamara Kapugedera, 5 Asela Gunaratne, 6 Milinda Siriwardana, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Seekkuge Prasanna 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Vikum Sanjaya

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt.), 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin Ahmed

Courtesy :  espncricinfo