DHAKA, March 22, 2024 (BSS)-Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto invited Sri Lanka to bat first in the first of the two-match Test series after winning the toss today at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

This is the first time in nine years that Bangladesh opted to bowl in a home Test after winning the toss. The last time they did so, though, they lost to Pakistan by 328 runs.

Bangladesh handed debut to Nahid Rana, who is considered as the fastest pacer of the country.

The hosts will be without the services of their most experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim in this series owing to a fractured thumb.

Sri Lankan brought back pacer Lahiru Kumara who played his last Test in the last year against New Zealand.

The two teams earlier shared the white-ball trophies. Sri Lanka won the T20 series by 2-1 while Bangladesh secured the ODI series by same margin.

Line Ups:

Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(captain), Mominul Haque, Liton Das, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam and Syed Khaled Ahmed.

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva(captain), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara.