With the aim of confirming a Super Four berth in the Asia Cup Twenty20, Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka Thursday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The crucial encounter begins at 8pm Bangladesh time and Bangladesh Television, Gazi TV, Nagorik TV and Star Sports 1 will telecast it live.
For both the teams, the game is “do or die” in order to stay alive in the six-team tournament following their comprehensive eight-wicket defeat to Afghanistan.
The indomitable Afghans also outclassed Bangladesh by seven wickets and became the first team to qualify for the Super Four.
Only a victory therefore, will do if Bangladesh are to join Afghanistan in the Super Four where the four teams will face each other once before the top two sides - on the basis of points - move to the final.
After being tormented by the Afghans, Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka expressed hope of advancing to the Super Four, saying Bangladesh are easier opponents than Afghanistan.
His statement might not be too wide off the mark given the current circumstances but the Tigers nevertheless will be hurting and desperate to give a fitting reply.
Anything short of a win and Bangladesh will return home empty handed.
Question remains if Bangladesh can turn things around after a disappointing loss to Afghanistan in the opening game, where lack of power-hitting came to the fore again.
A Bangladesh Cricket Board official said board president Nazmul Hasan met the cricketers at the hotel Wednesday and tried to bolster their confidence ahead of the big clash against the Lankans.
While the Sharjah pitch was slow, Dubai has been known to produce batting friendly wicket so Bangladesh batsmen will be looking to cash in.
Bangladesh so far played 12 matches against Sri Lanka and won just four, in contrast to eight losses.
But what could possibly motivate Bangladesh is that their highest chase and highest score in T20 cricket came against Sri Lanka, and that too on Lankan soil.
In that match, Mushfiqur Rahim played a spellbinding 35-ball 72 not out to help Bangladesh overcome the home side’s 214/6 with two balls to spare.
Mushfiq's knock is still considered one of the best knocks in T20 International cricket by a Bangladeshi.
As Mushfiq is under fire following his prolonged bad patch in T20 cricket, his service is again needed if Bangladesh want to progress to the last four.
Overall Bangladesh played 132 T20Is, winning 45 and losing 84 while three matches ended in no result.
