The Tigers will start their three-match ODI series taking on hosts Sri Lanka in the first match at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Saturday.

Bangladesh to make few changes in their best XI from their last ODI combination that played against the New Zealand.

Mushfiqur Rahim will return to the line-up as wicketkeeper in place of Nurul Hasan while Tanbir Hayder is not in the 17-man current squad.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz got sudden and late call-up likely to make ODI debut. Sunzamul Islam may also get an ODI cap, if they decide to play only two pace bowlers.

If Bangladesh play three pacers in the match, Taskin may join the force besides Mashrafe and Mustafizur Rahman.

The day-night match which will start at 3:00pm, Bangladesh time, must be a competitive affairs as both sides will leave no stone unturned to ensure the winning start in the series.

The series becomes more hyperactive for both sides in terms of rankings in the ODI, the results could go the way of the team that holds its nerve better, which will help them to auto qualify the next ICC World Cup.

If Bangladesh can keep the momentum and win the series, they will directly play the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and can spend the next two years planning on making the roadmap to Lord’s.

After the landmark win over Sri Lanka in the 2nd Test, a fully strong and fresh-minded Bangladesh will look to keep the momentum in the limited-over match too as the Tigers track record in ODIs against Sri Lanka is better than in other formats of cricket, having four wins and one no result in 38 outings.

The Tigers are mostly boosted by their charismatic captain Mashrafe who on Friday cautiously said,’ We started well in New Zealand but couldn’t finish off those games. So every game becomes important, not just at the start or end of a series.’

‘We had four training sessions, and in all those four sessions....I think, we are doing quite okay in practices when it comes to fielding, but when we go into the middle, we fail to concentrate.’ Mashrafe sumed up his speech ahead of the match day on Friday.

Mashrafe’s man has no complain of suffering injury and no worry of team combination due to the availability of young and experienced players, including Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and young cutter master Mustafizur Rahman.

Bangladesh probable XI: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed