Tests await Tigers in first Test

It will be a test for the Tigers to overcome the disappointing defeat in the ODI tri-series final and move forward against a spirited Sri Lanka side in the first match of the two-Test series starting at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium from 9:30 am today.

The first challenge will be for the Tigers to make do without regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who suffered an injury to his left little finger during the final of the tri-series. Today would have been his first assignment since replacing Mushfiqur Rahim as Test captain late last year.

Shakib's absence prompted the selectors to include three extra spinners, make it a total of six turners in the 16-member squad, with the latest being the return of veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak after a gap of four years. Another left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam and leg-spinning all-rounder Tanbir Hayder were included the day before Razzak's inclusion on January 27.

In Shakib's absence it will be yet another test for first-time stand-in captain Mahmudullah Riyad to kead the Tigers' return to the longest format of the game in a positive manner after the disastrous tour of South Africa in September-October last year.

It will also be Bangladesh's first return to the venue where they faced the music of Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who picked 13 wickets in the second Test to hand the hosts a seven-wicket defeat and deny them the achievement of beating Australia in a Test series. This time, the threat is of a similar calibre in the form of Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who is returning from injury and has a a devastating record of 41 wickets in just eight Tests against Bangladesh.

And in the absence of the experienced Shakib, it will be important for the likes of Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal to lead the charge and come up with an attacking approach rather than retreating into a defensive mindset.

The biggest source of confidence for Bangladesh will be that in their last Test against the Lankans in Colombo in March 2017, they came out on top in the country's 100th Test, which levelled the two-match series 1-1.

There is a lot of curiosity and confusion over the playing 11, occasioned by the unusual inclusion of six spinners in the squad. Keeping the nature of the pitch in mind, which is likely to help the spinners from the first session, the Bangladesh think tank is likely to opt for only one pacer in the form of Mustafizur Rahman, according to sources close to the team.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz will be among the three spinners in the playing 11 and the team management will have to decide at the last minute whether the last spot will be given to another left-arm spinner in Sunzamul or leg-spinning all-rounder Tanbir.

Bangladesh are likely to go with seven batsman, with Imrul Kayes all set to open the innings with Tamim, while Mominul Haque is expected to bat at number three. Mushfiqur Rahim is expected to play only as a batsman in the Test side after 2016 and will bat at number four while Liton Das will take the gloves and is expected to come in after Mahmudullah at number six.

Mosaddek Hossain, who was out of the side since the Champions Trophy in June last year due to an eye problem, is all set to return to the Test side to strengthen the lower-middle order.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will once again come up with something different under head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and the visitors will be oozing confidence after their tri-series win.

And a well-fought three-match series in India which Sri Lanka lost 0-1 will also boost confidence and Dinesh Chandimal's leadership ability along with his fine form will be crucial. Dhananjaya de Silva, who smashed a brilliant hundred against India, will take charge in the batting department in the absence of the injured Angelo Mathews.