Bangladesh hope for recovery

Mohammad Rafique (top) struggled in the second Test last week © Getty Images

Bangladesh’s troubled bowler Mohammad Rafique is hopeful the Kandy wicket will allow his team-mates to enjoy some belated glory in Wednesday’s dead-rubber against Sri Lanka.

The Tigers head into the third and final Test facing an insurmountable 2-0 deficit and the knowledge they have so far failed to force their rivals into a second innings since this series began last month.

But spinner Rafique, whose figures of one wicket for 272 runs he believes are the worst of his career, is eyeing some success for his seamers on the Kandy track.

He said: “So far it has been my worst-ever performance in Test cricket. I bowled 35 overs in the last Test without any success.

“Murali (Muralitharan) can turn the ball on glass, so the condition doesn't matter to him. But bowlers of our calibre should get some assistance from the wicket which was not the case in the first two Tests and I think it will be the same here.

“I think if our batsmen are able to manage at least 300 runs, then it could have been a different story for the bowlers.”

The Bangladesh batsmen will not have to contend with the deliveries of Chaminda Vaas, who has been given dispensation to return to county duties with Middlesex.

Vaas, who took six wickets in the first two Tests and made his maiden Test century in the opener in Colombo, is replaced in the attack by left-arm fast bowler Sujeewa Silva.

The Sri Lanka team has not, however, been decided.

Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Kangadaran Madivanan said: “Nothing has been finalised with regards to the final team. It is very likely that the final line-up will be decided the day before the game or on the morning of the match.”