The International Cricket Council (ICC) has awarded the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy a single demerit point after match referee Ranjan Madugalle of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh rated the pitch as ‘below average’, ICC informed in a press release today.

The Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo wanted to play the same eleven from the first Test for the second Test against Sri Lanka, slated for tomorrow at Kandy, but said that he will have to keep in mind the workload of the faster bowlers while also reminding that the final playing eleven does not rest solely up to him.

Head coach Russell Domingo hinted that there was a culture of playing not to lose in the Bangladesh team management and said he wanted to initiate a shift of culture, while speaking to the media during a virtual press conference on the eve of the second Test match against Sri Lanka starting tomorrow.

BCB director Khaled Mahmud, who went with the Tigers during the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, conceded that the wicket at Pallekelle in the first Test against the Lankans was not result-oriented but believes the Tigers can take positives from the drawn Test to continue on the same vein and learn how to win in the longer format.

When Bangladesh were batting in the second innings on day five of the first Test at Kandy, opener Tamim Iqbal reached his fifty off just 56 deliveries with back-to-back boundaries with the team score at only 52.

Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva reached personal milestones as Sri Lanka kept the Bangladesh bowlers toiling hard for a wicket on the fourth day of the first Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy today.

One of the groundsmen at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, where the first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is taking place, was tested positive for coronavirus on the third day of the Test match on Friday.

Bangladesh declared at 541 for seven in their first innings on day three of the first Test at Kandy and scenes prior to Mehedi Miraz's dismissal brought out a few laughs from the players.

Landmark scores from Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto and an unbeaten fifty-run stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das helped Bangladesh pile up a mammoth score before the second day's play of the first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended prematurely due to bad lights at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy today.

The second day's play of the first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy today has been delayed due to bad lights just a few overs after the Tea break.

The two overnight batsmen -- Najmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Mominul Haque -- reached landmark scores and stitched together a record partnership before departing to help the Tigers stay on top on the second day of their first Test against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy today. However, the scoring rate plunged since the departure of the duo in the second session of the game.

Najmul Hossain Shanto struck his maiden Test ton for Bangladesh in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kandy today. The Tigers amassed 302 for two at the end of Day 1.

Bangladesh star batsman Tamim Iqbal was close to completing his 10th Test ton, fell 10 runs short of the target in the second session of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kandy today.

Tamim Iqbal showed authority and class as Bangladesh put on 106 runs in 27 overs before lunch was called on Day 1 of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at Kandy.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kandy today.

Bangladesh batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto said that there is no point in pondering over the hot and humid weather of Sri Lanka and that the team that will be able to keep their patience and bat long will taste success in their upcoming two-Test series against the Island nation.

The Bangladesh spinners have time and again failed to make any real impact in matches, especially in the longest format, when the pitches are not conducive to spin. With no real variations to keep batsmen guessing, spinners regurgiate the 'tagline' of maintaining line and length, but to what extent it works in their favour, remains a big question.

Former Bangladesh cricketer and current BCB Cricket Operations Chairman Akran Khan has been hospitalized today. The former Bangladesh captain had tested positive for coronavirus last Friday.

Bangladesh ace pacer Mustafizur Rahman had a fairly decent outing for Rajasthan Royals against Delhi Capitals in the IPL match at Mumbai today but questions could be raised whether the pitch comes to his rescue more often these days given that his effectiveness is more and more is reliant on slower deliveries.

Even though players end up blaming 'clearness of the sky' for poor fielding after a series or talk about 'lack of preparation time' following completion of abysmal away tours, Bangladesh players, however, very rarely have any kinds of problems ahead of any series.