Sri Lankan left-arm pacer Isuru Udana is optimistic about his team’s chances in the upcoming tour of Bangladesh which will comprise of three ODIs. The young Sri Lankan side are set to compete against a strong Bangladesh team and with several top-notch players missing out, Sri Lanka will have their task cut out. However, Udana is hopeful of a strong performance especially at a time when the burden of expectations is not there.
With so many new faces making the cut, it will be an opportunity for the young blokes to come out all guns blazing and prove a point or two. Experienced campaigners like Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were shown the door but it remains to be seen if Sri Lanka can stick to that decision for their future tours as well.
While Sri Lanka will be playing without so many of their first-choice players, Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be bolstered by the return of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. He had opted out of the New Zealand tour for his paternity leave before missing the Test series in Sri Lanka to ply his trade in the Indian Premier League.
'"To be honest, Bangladesh has a few superstars in their team (and expected to be carrying the load of expectations) while we have a young side and we have nothing to lose," Udana was quoted by the reporters at the BCB Academy premises on Thursday.
"We are here to beat them, so we want to give our best to beat those guys, because in their home, they are very dangerous and we know that,'' he further added.
It won’t be an easy task for either team to play in the hot and humid conditions in Dhaka. The severe conditions are bound to affect the cricketers in some way or the other but Udana feels that the Sri Lankans are more equipped and better used to the conditions as the heat and humidity is a lot more in the island nation.
"I don't think heat and humidity will be a concern because in Sri Lanka, it's hotter than this. We're quite used to the bio-bubble life now. Going forward, we have to stick to those plans, so I think we are ready because we had a five-six day training camp in Colombo. We also had two good sessions here, so I think all the guys are ready,” Udana said.
The left-arm pacer who has been in and around the international circuit for a long time now is expected to lead the bowling attack in the absence of several stalwarts of the team. Udana feels that the onus will be on the youngsters to make their presence felt especially in the absence of some premier players.
"About the selection, we can't control those things; we are here to give our best, which we have," he said. "In this game, we all have to take responsibility, because, I can be an experienced bowler, but on a particular day, a young guy can do better than me. So I think we all have to stick together and portray our experiences,'' he added.
Having played in the Bangladesh Premier League in the past, Udana will look to seek some of his experiences from that venture. "I have played 3-4 years of BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) here, so I have a bit of experience. On that very day, we have to give our best to beat this team, so that's the plan for us,'' Udana said.
He has plied his trade in several T20 tournaments across the world. Udana who was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore outfit in the IPL said that his experience in the cash-rich league will benefit him in the long run.
"First I look at the wicket, and when I notice the wicket is slow and old, so I use that (slower delivery) more. I've had that for years now, so I have the feel now of when I can bowl that,'' Udana signed off.
The three-match ODI series kicks off on 23rd May with the second and third ODI slated to be played on 25th and 28th May respectively.