The pressure is more on Sri Lanka than Bangladesh

Bangladesh is set to kick off their World Cup mission against Sri Lanka early on Saturday morning. This match is crucial for both teams. Sri Lanka, having already faced a disappointing defeat against South Africa in their first World Cup match, is determined to secure a victory against Bangladesh in their second match. On the other hand, the Tigers aim to start their World Cup journey with a win to regain their confidence.

The Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry has intensified over the past few years, marked by incidents like the "Nagin Dance" and the timed-out controversy, adding a unique dimension to their matches. Consequently, players from both teams will face additional mental pressure before stepping onto the field.

Despite the fierce competition, Sri Lanka holds a significant statistical advantage over Bangladesh. The two teams have faced each other 16 times in T20 internationals, with Sri Lanka winning 11 matches and Bangladesh securing victory in only 5.

Bangladesh is currently not in the best form. They recently lost a series to the United States and were outclassed by India in a World Cup warm-up match. In light of these challenges, how is the Bangladesh team preparing? In a pre-match press conference, Shanto stated:

"In terms of preparation, everyone is well-prepared. I believe we have tried to make the most of the available opportunities. There will always be ups and downs, but we have tried to take as much positive as possible from our practice sessions. I think we are well-prepared."

Regarding the Dallas pitch, Shanto commented: "From what we’ve seen, one match had a score of 194, and today it was around 150. We will understand the pitch better once we play tomorrow. However, I feel batting with the new ball will be challenging. There are no excuses; adapting to the conditions and giving a good start will be crucial for the batters. If we bowl first, it will be important to take advantage of the conditions to take wickets. I don't think we need to worry too much about the pitch. Utilizing our skills effectively is more important."

Shanto also said: "I think everyone is in a good mental state. We are all mentally strong. Being the first World Cup match, there will naturally be some nerves, but handling that well is important. Many players have previous World Cup experience, and they will try to leverage that."

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will face off at 6:30 AM Bangladesh time on Saturday.