It was really encouraging for Mohammad Ashraful that he has got his best new ball pairing fit for his first assignment as captain, as Shahadat Hossain will share the new ball with the Narail Express who had failed to play any match in the last tour in 2005.

However the question has been raised on whether the new captain has got the right bowling attack, with the fact that they are going to play the match with only two seamers after left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has been given the chance for his impressive bowling in the three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka A.

Many thought that under such humid conditions it could be dangerous to use two pacers in his long spell but the Bangladesh think-tank favoured too many spin bowlers as they suddenly felt that they have a lack of a genuine third seamer.

"Yes, it might have been better if we have a genuine third seamer. Considering the conditions we have picked up our best side. Raj (Abdur Razzak) bowled very well in the practice game and I believe that he will be useful in the match," explained selector Akram Khan.

Bangladesh team has two genuine left-arm spinners in ace Mohammad Rafique and Razzak and they have also two other spin options in left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan and leg-spinner Ashraful.

It apparently seemed that the Bangladesh team was only concerned about their batting but immediate past Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar believes that they have to get the service also from the bowlers otherwise it would be impossible to do anything against Sri Lanka, who play their own brand of cricket.

"I think the first innings is important whether you are bowling or batting. They have a very solid batting line-up and everybody has the capability to make a big score, so if you don't get proper service from the bowlers it will also effect your batting," observed the right-hander.

"Sri Lanka is not like the other subcontinent teams because they have their own brand of cricket which I think is very attacking. You have to be good in both batting and bowling if you want to do something against them," said Bashar, who is going to start a new mission to revive his reputation as a batsman.

He expressed his satisfaction over the fact that Mashrafe is going to play the match today.

"Last time we missed him which was a great loss. His presence is very important for the team. This time we are lucky to have him fully fit for the match," said an excited Bashar.

Mashrafe was also looking forward to erase his painful memory of the last time. "I went back home without playing a match last time which was really frustrating. Actually it is always a big challenge to play against Sri Lanka because they are very special as a team. You can't compare them with any other side in the world. They have bowlers like Murali and Malinga and their batting is also altogether different from the other sides. I think their approach is totally different," he said.

"I am looking forward to bowling against them in their own soil. I think our whole squad is much more confident now. Let see what happen this time," said the lion-hearted cricketer.