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The rivalry between the Bangladesh National Cricket Team and the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team has developed over several decades across One Day Internationals, Test cricket and T20Is. Their first international meeting came during the 1986 Asia Cup in Kandy, when Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets. At that stage, Bangladesh was still developing its international cricket structure and had not yet achieved Test status. Bangladesh received Test status in 2000 and played its first Test against Sri Lanka in September 2001 during the Asian Test Championship. Sri Lanka won that match by an innings and 137 runs.
Since then, the two sides have met regularly in bilateral series and major Asian and ICC competitions. Sri Lanka established a strong record in the early years, particularly in Test cricket, while Bangladesh gradually became more competitive in limited-overs cricket. Matches between the teams have produced memorable individual performances, dramatic finishes and important tournament results.
The rivalry has continued into the modern era, with the 2023 World Cup, 2024 Test series and 2025 all-format tour providing further chapters. The 2025 tour included two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is in Sri Lanka, while the three-match limited-overs series produced victories for both teams.
1986 to 2000: The Rivalry Begins in the Asia Cup
The first official ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka took place on April 2, 1986, during the inaugural Asia Cup at Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. Sri Lanka won by seven wickets after Bangladesh were restricted to 131.
The teams met again in subsequent editions of the Asia Cup during the late 1980s and 1990s. Sri Lanka generally controlled these early encounters, while Bangladesh continued to gain international experience.
Bangladesh’s cricketing development accelerated during this period. The national team had already participated in international ODI cricket before obtaining Test status. On June 26, 2000, Bangladesh became the tenth Test-playing nation. Its first Test was subsequently played against India in November 2000.
The Asia Cup remained an important competition for Bangladesh because it provided regular opportunities to face established teams such as Sri Lanka.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Asia Cup | Kandy | Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets |
| 1988 | Asia Cup | Colombo | Sri Lanka won |
| 1990 | Asia Cup | Colombo | Sri Lanka won |
| 1995 | Asia Cup | Sharjah | Sri Lanka won |
| 1997 | Asia Cup | Colombo | Sri Lanka won |
| 2000 | Asia Cup | Dhaka | Sri Lanka won |
The 1986 meeting remains the starting point of the official ODI history between the two nations.
2001 to 2008: Test Cricket Enters the Rivalry
The Bangladesh and Sri Lanka rivalry entered a new stage in September 2001 when the teams played their first Test against each other at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
Sri Lanka made 555 for five declared, while Bangladesh were dismissed for 90 in the first innings. Bangladesh improved considerably in the second innings but were eventually dismissed for 328. Sri Lanka won by an innings and 137 runs.
Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka again in 2002 for a two-Test series. Sri Lanka won both matches, including victories by an innings and 196 runs and by 288 runs.
The pattern continued during the 2005 and 2006 series. Sri Lanka remained successful in Test cricket, while Bangladesh continued developing its ability to compete against established Test nations.
In 2007, Sri Lanka hosted Bangladesh for a three-Test series. Sri Lanka won all three matches. The 2008–09 series in Bangladesh produced another 2–0 victory for Sri Lanka.
| Period | Tests | Sri Lanka wins | Bangladesh wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
The early Test history therefore established a significant advantage for Sri Lanka, although Bangladesh’s competitiveness would improve considerably in later years.
2009 to 2017: Bangladesh Becomes More Competitive
The next phase of the rivalry brought more competitive contests, particularly in limited-overs cricket. Bangladesh began producing stronger performances at home, while Sri Lanka continued to remain a difficult opponent in Test cricket.
The 2012–13 Test series in Sri Lanka produced a draw in the first match at Galle. Bangladesh scored 638 in its first innings, with Mushfiqur Rahim becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test triple century. Sri Lanka eventually drew the match after reaching 335 for four in the second innings.
Sri Lanka won the second Test in Colombo by seven wickets.
The 2013–14 series in Bangladesh also produced a Sri Lankan victory, although the first Test was drawn. The second Test in Chittagong was another draw, leaving Sri Lanka with the series advantage.
A significant shift came in 2017. Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in a Test match in Colombo by four wickets. This was Bangladesh’s first Test victory over Sri Lanka. The match also became an important milestone in Bangladesh’s Test development.
| Year | Format | Important event |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Test | Bangladesh scored 638 at Galle |
| 2013 | Test | First Test between the teams ended in a draw |
| 2014 | Test | Series played in Bangladesh |
| 2017 | Test | Bangladesh recorded its first Test win over Sri Lanka |
The 2017 victory showed that Bangladesh had become increasingly capable of challenging Sri Lanka in the longest format.
2018 to 2022: Dramatic Limited-Overs Encounters
The rivalry became especially entertaining in T20 cricket during this period. One of the most memorable meetings came during the 2018 Nidahas Trophy in Colombo.
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in a dramatic T20I group-stage match after successfully chasing 215. Mushfiqur Rahim played a major role in the chase, scoring an unbeaten 72 from 35 deliveries. The match featured several tense moments and became one of the most discussed encounters between the teams.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also faced each other in the 2018 Asia Cup and subsequent bilateral contests.
In Test cricket, Sri Lanka maintained an advantage. The 2020–21 and 2022 World Test Championship cycles included additional Test meetings, with Sri Lanka winning one match and the other matches ending in draws.
The teams also met during the 2021 T20 World Cup and 2022 Asia Cup period, adding further limited-overs chapters to the rivalry.
| Year | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Test in Colombo | Bangladesh won by 4 wickets |
| 2018 | Nidahas Trophy T20I | Bangladesh won by 5 wickets |
| 2018 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka and Bangladesh continued rivalry |
| 2021 | World Test Championship | Sri Lanka won a Test |
| 2022 | Test series | One match won by Sri Lanka, one draw |
The 2018 Nidahas Trophy encounter remains especially notable because it demonstrated Bangladesh’s ability to chase a substantial total against Sri Lanka in a high-pressure T20 match.
2023 to 2024: World Cup and Test Cricket Milestones
The teams continued to meet regularly in international cricket during 2023. One notable encounter occurred during the 2023 Asia Cup, while another major meeting came during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in Delhi.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka played their World Cup match on November 6, 2023. Sri Lanka batted first and made 279. Bangladesh successfully chased the target, reaching 282 for seven and winning by three wickets.
The match is also remembered for the timed-out dismissal of Angelo Mathews. He became the first international batter to be dismissed timed out in a major international cricket match after Bangladesh appealed when Mathews was unable to take strike within the required time. The incident attracted significant discussion within cricket.
In Test cricket, Sri Lanka continued to hold the stronger historical record. During the 2023–24 cycle, Sri Lanka won both Tests of the two-match series in Bangladesh. The first Test in Sylhet was won by 328 runs, while Sri Lanka won the second Test in Chattogram by 192 runs.
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka and Bangladesh met in group-stage cricket |
| 2023 | ODI World Cup | Bangladesh won by 3 wickets |
| 2024 | First Test | Sri Lanka won by 328 runs |
| 2024 | Second Test | Sri Lanka won by 192 runs |
The 2023 World Cup victory gave Bangladesh another important limited-overs result against Sri Lanka, while the 2024 Test series reinforced Sri Lanka’s strong record in the longer format.
2025: All-Format Tour of Sri Lanka
The 2025 tour was one of the most comprehensive recent bilateral contests between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The schedule included two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is between June and July. The Test series also opened a new World Test Championship cycle for both teams.
The first Test at Galle ended in a draw. Bangladesh made 495 in the first innings, while Sri Lanka responded with 485. Bangladesh declared at 285 for six in the second innings, leaving Sri Lanka with a target, but the hosts finished on 72 for four.
Sri Lanka won the second Test at Colombo by an innings and 78 runs. Sri Lanka made 458, while Bangladesh were dismissed for 247 and 133. The result gave Sri Lanka a 1–0 Test series victory.
The ODI series produced a different pattern. Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 77 runs, Bangladesh won the second by 16 runs, and Sri Lanka won the third by 99 runs. Sri Lanka therefore won the ODI series 2–1.
The T20I series provided a different outcome. Sri Lanka won the opening match by seven wickets, but Bangladesh won the second by 83 runs and the third by eight wickets. Bangladesh therefore secured the T20I series 2–1.
| Format | Series result | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | Sri Lanka won 1–0 | First Test drawn |
| ODIs | Sri Lanka won 2–1 | Bangladesh won the second ODI |
| T20Is | Bangladesh won 2–1 | Bangladesh won the final two matches |
The 2025 tour demonstrated how the balance between the teams can change depending on the format.
Overall Timeline and Modern Rivalry
The history of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka contains several distinct stages. Sri Lanka dominated the early ODI and Test meetings, particularly after Bangladesh entered Test cricket in 2000. Bangladesh’s first Test victory over Sri Lanka came in 2017, and the team has subsequently produced several important limited-overs victories.
According to historical records through the 2025 series, the two teams have played 28 Tests, with Sri Lanka winning 21, Bangladesh winning one and six ending in draws. In ODIs, Sri Lanka have won 44 of 59 meetings, Bangladesh 13, with two no-results.
The rivalry has also produced memorable tournament moments such as Bangladesh’s 2018 Nidahas Trophy victory, the 2023 World Cup match and the 2025 T20I series victory.
| Era | Major milestone |
|---|---|
| 1986 | First ODI meeting |
| 2001 | First Test meeting |
| 2007 | Sri Lanka completes 3–0 Test series |
| 2017 | Bangladesh records first Test win over Sri Lanka |
| 2018 | Bangladesh wins dramatic Nidahas Trophy T20I |
| 2023 | Bangladesh beats Sri Lanka at ODI World Cup |
| 2024 | Sri Lanka wins two-Test series 2–0 |
| 2025 | Sri Lanka wins Tests and ODIs; Bangladesh wins T20Is |
Conclusion
The Bangladesh National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline stretches from the 1986 Asia Cup to the modern multi-format era. Sri Lanka dominated many early meetings, particularly in Test cricket, but Bangladesh gradually developed into a much more competitive international side. The 2017 Test victory, 2018 Nidahas Trophy win and 2023 World Cup victory became important milestones for Bangladesh. Sri Lanka continued to produce strong results in Tests and ODIs, including the 2024 series and the 2025 tour. The 2025 results, with Sri Lanka winning the Test and ODI series while Bangladesh took the T20I series, demonstrate the contrasting nature of this long-running cricket rivalry.
FAQs
1. When did Bangladesh and Sri Lanka first play each other?
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka first played an official ODI on April 2, 1986, during the Asia Cup at Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. Sri Lanka won the match by seven wickets.
2. When did Bangladesh and Sri Lanka first play a Test match?
Their first Test was played in September 2001 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo during the Asian Test Championship. Sri Lanka won by an innings and 137 runs.
3. When did Bangladesh record its first Test victory over Sri Lanka?
Bangladesh recorded its first Test victory over Sri Lanka in March 2017 in Colombo. Bangladesh won by four wickets.
4. What happened in the Bangladesh versus Sri Lanka match at the 2023 World Cup?
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in Delhi. Sri Lanka scored 279, while Bangladesh reached 282 for seven. The match also became notable for Angelo Mathews’ timed-out dismissal.
5. What happened during the 2025 Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka?
The teams played two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. Sri Lanka won the Test series 1–0 and ODI series 2–1, while Bangladesh won the T20I series 2–1.
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