Bangladesh bat first in 1st Test against Sri Lanka

DHAKA, June 17, 2025  - Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bat first in the two-match Test series opening game against Sri Lanka at Galle International Cricket Stadium today. Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was left out of the game after failing to gain his match fitness due to a fever.  Liton Das returned to the squad as it was expected after missing the last Test s

DHAKA, June 17, 2025  - Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bat first in the two-match Test series opening game against Sri Lanka at Galle International Cricket Stadium today.

Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was left out of the game after failing to gain his match fitness due to a fever. 
Liton Das returned to the squad as it was expected after missing the last Test series against Zimbabwe.

"It looks like a dry wicket," Shanto said, explaining his decision to bat first. "In the fourth innings, there is a chance for the spinners to get all wickets. But we have to play good cricket."

Sri Lanka handed debuts to two cricketers--top-order batter Lahiru Udara and ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, however, stressed batting well.

"We need to bat well. And the pitch will be batting-friendly. So we have to make sure that we'll compile a healthy score when we bat," he said.
After this test, Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews will retire from the longer version of cricket.

Line Ups:

Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das(w), Jaker Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kusal Mendis(w), Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Tharindu Ratnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando