Sri Lanka opt to bat first in Chattogram

Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday. 

No surprises there as Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, on the eve of the Test, said that there is absolutely nothing for bowlers on this wicket.

There is also forecast of rain on all five days of the Test, thanks to the after-effects of Cyclone Asani.

Bangladesh go in with three spinners, including Shakib Al Hasan of course, the others being Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hassan. The two pacers are Shoriful Islam and Khaled Ahmed, with Ebadot Hossain not getting picked. No surprises in the batting department either. 

Meanwhile, a minute's silence will be observed before the start of the game in memory of Andrew Symonds, the former Australia all-rounder who tragically passed away from a car accident earlier in the day at the age of 46.

A minute's silence being observed for Andrew Symonds. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 2 Oshada Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Dinesh Chandimal, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Lasith Embuldeniya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Vishwa Fernando

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Nayeem Hasan, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Khaled Ahmed