The second game of the 2023 Asia Cup ODI is set to take place on Thursday, August 31, 2023, featuring a matchup between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The venue for this exciting encounter will be the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

The reigning champions, Sri Lanka, are all set to launch their bid to retain the Asia Cup title in this edition. Their opening match against Bangladesh marks the beginning of their campaign. Playing on their home turf adds to their advantage. Sri Lanka’s fortune shines as they previously hosted the Asia Cup and are now co-hosts for this tournament. This allows them to contest crucial matches on familiar grounds. While Bangladesh faced challenges in the previous Asia Cup season, this tournament presents a valuable opportunity for them to achieve improved results.

Over the past few years, Bangladesh has made significant strides in their white-ball cricket. They secured victories on their home turf against formidable opponents like England and India, showcasing their progress. However, their performance away from home hasn’t been as commendable. The previous edition of the Asia Cup highlighted their struggles, failing to advance beyond the league matches and exiting the tournament after the initial round. While Bangladesh has excelled in the T20 format of past Asia Cup editions, the transition to the longer 50-over format poses a challenge.

In recent times, Tamim Iqbal led Bangladesh, but the captaincy has now been entrusted to Shakib Al-Hasan. It’s noteworthy that Shakib is returning to lead the ODI team after a seven-year hiatus. His dual role as a prominent all-rounder will be pivotal for Bangladesh’s success in this tournament. The team’s management has also included Tanzid Ahmed in the squad, with the anticipation that he might make his debut during the event. Tanzid replaces the injured Tamim Iqbal.

Bangladesh’s batting lineup boasts the prowess of Shamim Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, and Mohammad Naim. The bowling unit will be orchestrated by Mahedi Hasan Miraz, accompanied by Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Taskin Ahmed.

Sri Lanka’s performance in 50-over cricket has lacked luster in recent times, even though they managed to secure a spot in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup by overcoming some younger teams. Many of Sri Lanka’s players participated in the Lanka Premier League, but several key individuals are grappling with injuries. Given the impending World Cup, the Sri Lankan selectors have opted to rest some crucial players. Despite the challenges outlined above, Sri Lanka remains a formidable team. The squad has been infused with young and promising talents for this upcoming tournament.

The team’s roster includes experienced figures such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, and Lahiru Kumara, all of whom can adeptly manage the top and middle batting order. Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, and Dimuth Karunaratne are other seasoned batsmen in the lineup, capable of handling the middle and lower order with ease. Sri Lanka has assembled a cadre of top-tier seam bowlers for the tournament, with Kasun Rajitha and Matheesha Pathirana standing out as prime examples. Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, and Dunith Wellalage are also poised to contribute to the host nation’s bowling arsenal.

Sri Lanka boasts a robust and seasoned ODI team, making them the clear frontrunners in comparison to Bangladesh, at least on paper. As per match predictions, Sri Lanka holds the upper hand and is likely to secure victory in this second match. Several factors contribute to Sri Lanka’s favored status, some of which are outlined below:

• A dominant track record: Sri Lanka has triumphed in 40 out of 51 ODI encounters against Bangladesh.
• Home advantage: The majority of matches won by Sri Lanka have been on their home turf, highlighting their proficiency in familiar conditions.
• Potent batting lineup: Sri Lanka’s batting order stands stronger and more formidable when compared to Bangladesh’s.
• Resilient bowling unit: Bangladesh’s bowling contingent is not to be underestimated, possessing both strength and experience.
• Absence of key players: Sri Lanka, however, will face the challenge of missing some of its pivotal batsmen in this particular match.

These collective factors solidify Sri Lanka’s position as the favored contender to emerge victorious in this second match.

Sri Lanka’s ODI lineup is a blend of seasoned professionals and emerging talents. The team boasts a potent batting order featuring renowned power hitters in the ODI format, thereby elevating their prospects of triumphing in today’s match. The match prediction for today’s contest against Sri Lanka leans favorably toward their side. The anticipated outcome of the second cricket match today is outlined below:

Sri Lanka holds a 58% likelihood of clinching victory in the 2nd Match.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, is positioned with a 42% chance of securing victory in the 2nd Match.

The coin toss will wield significant influence in determining the outcomes of all matches in the 2023 Asia Cup. Accumulating a substantial total on the scoreboard holds immense merit in these high-stakes encounters. As per toss predictions, the team that claims the toss is likely to opt for batting first, recognizing the advantage it can confer.

The venue for the 2nd match of the 2023 Asia Cup ODI is the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. This ground is characterized by a flat batting surface coupled with significant pace and bounce. Although slower than some other pitches, it offers substantial assistance to spinners. It’s anticipated that as the match progresses, the surface will gradually decelerate, making batting more challenging for the teams involved. Achieving a score ranging from 270 to 280 is likely to prove a formidable target to chase.

The weather outlook for Pallekele indicates high temperatures, posing a physical challenge to the players. Although some clouds are anticipated on the day of the match, the weather forecast does not indicate any likelihood of rain. As such, we can anticipate an uninterrupted and complete 2nd Match.

In the 51 One Day International (ODI) encounters between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh emerged victorious in only nine matches, while Sri Lanka clinched victory in 40 matches. Additionally, two matches in the BAN vs. SL rivalry remained undecided.

Bangladesh: Shakib al Hasan(C), Tanzid Tamim, Naim Sheikh, Nazmul Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim(WK), Mehidy Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman/ Shoriful Islam.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (WK), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha.

Captain: Shakib Al Hasan
Vice-Captain: Dhananjaya de Silva
Mushfiqur Rahim, Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Pathum Nissanka, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

• Date: Thursday, 31st August 2023
• Time: 09:30 AM GMT / 02:30 PM LOCAL / 03:00 PM IST

• Stadium: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
• Location: Pallekele, Sri Lanka
• Capacity: 35000
• Dimensions: 80m long, 75m wide
• End: Hunnasgiriya End, Rikillagaskada End
• Time Zone: UTC +05:30
• Home to: Kandurata
• Floodlights: Yes
• Curator: Asitha Wijesinghe

• Total matches: 36
• Matches won batting first: 15
• Matches won bowling first: 20
• Average 1st Inns scores: 250
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 202
• Highest total recorded: 363/7 (50 Ov) by RSA vs SL
• Lowest total recorded: 70/10 (24.4 Ov) by ZIM vs SL
• Highest score chased: 314/6 (49.4 Ov) by SL vs AFG
• Lowest score defended: 206/9 (36 Ov) by WI vs SL

Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Afif Hossain, Anamul Haque, Nasum Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.