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Bangladesh national cricket team’s journey of regaining their mojo back in once their favourite format, the ODIs, begins today under new captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz when they take on Sri Lanka in the first of the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.Ìý

The match is scheduled to start at 3:00pm Bangladesh Standard Time and T Sports will telecast it live.

Bangladesh have lost all of their last six matches in this format and, as a result, are currently in the number 10 position in the ICC ODI team rankings.Ìý

The top eight ranked teams, along with two of the hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe, will automatically qualify for the 14-team 2027 Cricket World Cup.

Bangladesh are currently undergoing a rebuilding process following the retirement of their last two stalwarts from the previous generation, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, from this format.Ìý

And this will be the first time since 2005 that none of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mushfiq, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, or Mahmudullah are going to participate in an ODI for Bangladesh.Ìý

Mehidy said that they would try some experienced guys to fill up the voids of Mushfiq and Mahmudullah in the middle order.Ìý

‘Look, we haven’t played any ODIs since the Champions Trophy,’ Mehidy told reporters ahead of the first match.Ìý

‘And Mushfiq and Mahmudullah Bhai have retired, and they used to play in two very important positions. They were very important players in the side.

‘We will be trying to fill those places with experienced players. As a captain, I can bat in one of those positions, and the other place might go to Liton. You see, the game has to be built from those two positions. So rather than putting someone younger there, we as senior players should take that responsibility,’ he added.Ìý

Liton, who was dropped from the squad of the Champions Trophy, returned to the fold along with Mohammad Naim, whose last match was back in 2023. Liton batted at three during his last outing in the format against the West Indies.

Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain hinted that they would continue the opening pair of Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain and selected Naim as a backup option.Ìý

Apart from lacking the experience of the likes of Mushfiq and Mahmudullah, Bangladesh are also coping with the recent controversies.Ìý

The BCB abruptly changed the captaincy prior to the tour, sacking Najmul Hossain Shanto from the ODI role. Shanto then resigned as Test captain as well.Ìý

However, Shanto remains in the team and will presumably take up the role of number three after previously playing as an opener in his last ODI.Ìý

Mehidy, though, said that it wouldn’t affect them.Ìý

‘Look, there is a lot of talk about the captaincy. But for us, we are not discussing it. Our job is to support our team and perform,’ said Mehidy.Ìý

‘When Shanto was captain, I helped him a lot. Before that, those who were captains, I also tried to perform under them. Every team has a captain, but everyone has to perform,’ he added.Ìý

‘When everyone does well, then the country does well. And I don’t have anything inside me like that, and Shanto doesn’t think that way either. Because the team is first, Bangladesh is first. That is the most important thing.’

The pace attack will be boosted by the return of Taskin Ahmed, who had been out of action since March due to an injury.Ìý

Sri Lanka, the number four ranked ODI team, will pose a tough challenge for Bangladesh as they are on a three-match winning streak.

In the last four matches, the teams that batted first have won at the Premadasa, where spinners generally get help from the wicket.Ìý

However, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka was hoping for a sporting wicket.Ìý

‘Generally, Premadasa is a spin-friendly track. But I am looking to play this game on a good track, not spin friendly,’ Asalanka told the reporters ahead of the series on Tuesday.Ìý

‘I think it will be good for the batters. We can see tomorrow,’ he said.

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