In the first day of the Chattogram Test match, Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud, playing his debut Test, felt frustrated when Mahmudul Hasan Joy missed an easy catch at slip, giving Sri Lanka’s Nishan Madushka a second chance early in the game.
Hasan Mahmud, bowling with determination, troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen with his swinging deliveries. However, a crucial opportunity slipped away when Mahmudul Hasan Joy couldn’t hold onto a catch, letting Madushka off the hook when he was only on nine runs.
Despite Hasan’s efforts, Bangladesh couldn’t take a wicket in the initial overs. Sri Lanka made 37 runs without losing any wickets in the first 10 overs. Madushka scored an unbeaten 25 off 36 balls, while Dimuth Karunaratne remained not out on 12 off 24 deliveries.
This match marks the return of Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s premier all-rounder, after he battled an eye problem. Hasan Mahmud, on the other hand, debuted in this Test match. Bangladesh aimed to recover from their heavy loss in the previous Test in Sylhet.
Bangladesh made two changes from their previous lineup, with Hasan replacing Shoriful Islam and Shakib coming in for Nahid Rana. Hasan Mahmud, already experienced in ODIs and T20Is, joined the bowling attack alongside Khaled Ahmed.
The pitch in Chattogram favored spinners, so Bangladesh opted for three spinners and two pacers. Alongside Shakib, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed formed the pace attack.
Bangladesh faced the game without their head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who had to return to Australia for personal reasons. Assistant coach Nic Pothas took charge of the team for this match.
With the Chattogram surface expected to aid the spinners more, Bangladesh went with three spinners and two pacers for the game. While Shakib will bolster the spin department, also including Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, it will be Khaled Ahmed and Hasan who will form the Tigers’ pace battery. Bangladesh will also be without head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who travelled back to Australia for personal reasons. The Tigers’s assistant coach Nic Pothas will be in charge of this game. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are missing pacer Kasun Rajitha, who injured his back in the Sylhet Test in which he took eight wickets. His replacement Asitha Fernando starts the game.