DHAKA, July 1, 2025 (BSS)-Sri Lanka's white-ball captain Charith Asalanka 
guarded against complacency, saying that the three-match ODI series against 
Bangladesh will be a huge challenge for them.

Bangladesh came to the series after tasting an ignominious innings and 78 
runs defeat to Sri Lanka in the second Test, that forced them to loss the 
two-match Test series 1-0.

"Bangladesh is a tough opponent," Asalanka told the reporters in Colombo 
ahead of the first ODI, which will take place at R Premadasa Stadium tomorrow 
(Wednesday).

"They have been playing really good cricket in the recent past. The last ODI 
series we played in Bangladesh, I think Bangladesh won that. So this is going 
to be a huge challenge for us," he added.

Both the teams have shared an equal record in recent times, winning five 
matches each in their last ten ODIs.

"Every team is a challenge for us. We are preparing ourselves that way," he 
said.

Aslanka talked about the recent rivalry between the two teams. It all started 
with nagin dance, Shakib's broken dressing-room door and recently Shakib Al 
Hasan's decision to inflict 'timed out' dismissal of Angelo Mathews during 
the 2023 World Cup.

But Asalanka said while it is the rivalry on the field, the Bangladeshi 
players are their good friends off the field.

 "I think we are good friends. But when it comes to playing cricket, it looks 
like a rivalry," he said.
 
"That is what everyone expects to see-that kind of game, that kind of heat. 
But at the end of the day, we are good friends."

While Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium generally produces spin-friendly wickets, 
Asalanka didn't have any reservation to reveal that he wanted a batting-
friendly wicket.

 "Generally, Premadasa is a spin-friendly track. But I am looking to play 
this game on a good track, not spin-friendly," he said.

"I think it will be good for the batters. We can see tomorrow," he said at 
the pre-match press conference ahead of the first ODI."

Asalanka has high praise of Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz with whom 
he shared ICC Under-19 World Cup memories back in 2016.
 
 "As a player, I can answer about Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He is a good bowler and 
a batsman. I don't know about his captaincy," he said.

He also heaped praise on pacer Mustafizur Rahman, whom he termed as dangerous 
on his given day.

"Mustafizur is a great bowler. He has proven that in the past. He has taken a 
lot of wickets for Bangladesh. I think we have a clear plan for him. We know 
that he can be dangerous," he said.