Hasaranga's absence

Given recent improvements in his batting, Wanindu Hasaranga has enlarged his reputation as Sri Lanka's most valuable player. But his mouth got him in trouble when he asked umpire Lyndon Hannibal whether he was a Sri Lankan when Hannibal seemed to get a no-ball call wrong (the implication was that only a foreigner would be so biased against Sri Lanka). As a result, Sri Lanka's new captain is suspended from the first two T20Is.

As he is essentially two players in one (a world-class legspinner, and a floating hitter), Sri Lanka will have trouble replacing him. They have legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay in as cover for his bowling, but need the rest of the middle order to produce the bursts of energy he increasingly brings to the Sri Lanka innings with the bat.

Bangladesh without Shakib

Shakib Al Hasan's eye condition will keep him out of the Sri Lanka series entirely. Najmul Hossain Shanto has been appointed as the Bangladesh captain for the next 12 months, so he starts off his permanent stint with this home series. Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah are the in-form batters. Anamul Haque, Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar have to do well to stay in contention for a place in the T20 World Cup squad.

Bangladesh have included legspinner Rishad Hossain though mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam is out due to a finger injury. The new selection panel led by Gazi Ashraf Hossain hasn't announced a replacement yet.