Bangladesh have ‘high expectations’ for two-Test series against Sri Lanka

Bangladesh host a "formidable” Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series starting today and ambitions are growing after years of struggle.Bangladesh finished last in the 2021-2023 World Test Championship, winning just one of their 12 matches.But in their previous Test series, against New Zealand in November-December, Bangladesh won the first match in Sylhet before losing the second in Dhaka after a close fight."We have high expectations,” Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha told reporters in Sylhet ahead of the first Test, part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle."If we can win most matches at home, then we give ourselves a good chance to be in contention in the World Test Championship."This Test series gives us a good challenge, but we are up for it,” he added.Hathurusingha warned however that he was expecting a tough challenge from his home nation Sri Lanka, calling them a "formidable, very experienced side”.Bangladesh will have to defy recent history.They have won one of their 24 Tests against Sri Lanka, with their only victory coming seven years ago in Colombo.Bangladesh will also be without veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who was ruled out of the series with a thumb injury.Bangladesh’s highest scorer in Tests with 5,676 runs in 88 matches was injured during Monday’s four-wicket win, when he helped the hosts to a 2-1 victory in the ODI series.Sri Lanka won the Twenty20 series 2-1.The second Test begins in Chittagong on March 30.Meanwhile Sri Lanka on Thursday defended the inclusion of all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in the Test squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh despite his suspension by the ICC.The move allows Hasaranga to serve out his ban during the Bangladesh Tests – and save himself for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in June, Sri Lanka’s next international fixture.If he were not included in the squad for Bangladesh Tests, the Sri Lanka T20 captain would have to sit out the first four matches of the World Cup.Hasaranga was on Monday criticised by umpires during the third one-day international against Bangladesh, when he snatched his cap from one and ridiculed him. Later that day, the 26-year-old apparently ended his retirement from Test cricket and was included in Sri Lanka’s 17-man Test squad.On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council handed down the punishment after Hasaranga was found guilty of "showing dissent at an umpire’s decision”, earning him three demerit points.This brought his total demerit points to eight in a 24-month period, which, according to ICC rules, was converted into four suspension points.The four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first.But Sri Lanka’s media manager, Mahinda Halangola, said on Thursday that Hasaranga’s inclusion in the Test squad was not meant to help him serve out his ban before the World Cup.Hasaranga had announced his retirement from Test cricket in August to prolong his limited-overs career.