DALLAS, June 8, 2024 (BSS)- Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the all important toss and as it was expected, he put Sri Lanka into bat first in their T20 World Cup opening game today at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium here.

Winning the toss became an X factor in this T20 World Cup and Shanto’s luck in calling it right provided Bangladesh the confidence they needed after a below par performance, leading up to the World Cup.

“We would like to bowl first as we expect some seam and swing early on,” Shanto told the broadcasters after winning the toss.

“Very important especially in this format, the top four have been doing a lot of hard work in the last few days. It (the pitch) looks a bit dry.”

Sri Lanka came to the game following a six-wicket defeat to South Africa. They were bowled out for 77 runs in that game and another defeat to Bangladesh would leave their Super 8 hopes in jeopardized state.

But when the toss decided the fate of the most of the matches in this World Cup, Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga tried to stay positive.

“We don't mind batting first,” he said. “We are going with two genuine fast bowlers and two genuine spinners, two seam bowling all rounders. It depends on the match situation on where I come out to bat.”

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed returned to the fold after recovering from the injury which forced him to miss the USA series and practice game. Shoriful Hasan who suffered a hand injury during the practice game against India was ruled out.

Line Ups:

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das(w), Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Hasan Sakib

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga(c), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana.