'I don't see any bowler in Sri Lanka, at least Bangladesh have two' - Khaled Mahmud responds to Dasun Shanaka on 'easier opponent' debate

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are gearing up for a mouth-watering clash on September 1 at the Dubai International Stadium. With both sides having lost their previous encounters, the upcoming fixture will relatively be a knockout game and the loser will exit the tournament.  

The intensity of the game is quite high already as Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka’s recent statement on the bowling attack of Bangladesh has become a talking point. Bangladesh’s team director Khaled Mahmud has now come up with an epic reply to Shanaka’s statement ahead of the exciting clash. 

We have at least Mustafizur and Shakib: Khaled Mahmud 

Mahmud mentioned that he isn’t aware of the exact reason behind Shanaka claiming Bangladesh to be an easier opponent than Afghanistan and wondered if the squad strength had anything to do with it. He remembered Shanaka’s statement on Bangladesh having just two world class bowlers and responded that Sri Lanka do not have even one in their bowling lineup.  

“It's upto Dasun, why he said that or why he thinks we are (easier opponent). Maybe Afghanistan has a better T20 squad, that's why he said that. He said a lot of other things as well, he said we have only 2 (world-class) bowlers or something. I don't see any in Sri Lanka, at least Bangladesh have two. That's very good. We have at least Mustafizur and Shakib, I don't think they have world -class bowlers like them,” Bangladesh’s team director Khaled Mahmud said.  

"I don't see any [world class] bowler in Sri Lanka side" Bangladesh Coach https://t.co/AZPib3xPBi pic.twitter.com/NosciLjKcq

— CricWire (@CricWireLK) August 31, 2022

Earlier, Shanaka felt that Bangladesh has just two world-class bowlers in the form of Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur and noted Bangladesh to be an easier opposition than Afghanistan.  

“Afghanistan has a world-class bowling attack. We know Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) is a good bowler. Shakib is a world-class bowler. But apart from them, there is no world-class bowler in the side. So if we compare with Afghanistan, Bangladesh is an easier opponent,” Shanaka said in the pre match conference.