After tasting a 107-run defeat by Sri Lanka in the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series on December 31, Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka today in the second Test , which begins at 9.30 AM at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong, the port city of the country.

Bangladesh faced daunting task to win over Sri Lanka when the Tigers scored 254 for the loss of five wickets in the second innings against the touring side at the close of the fourth day's play of the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their second innings making 405 for the loss of six wickets on the fourth day.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 178 in the first innings in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 293.

The visiting Sri Lanka took the upper hand on the second day of the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series when they piled up a satisfactory 293 in the first innings against Bangladesh

at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

In reply, Bangladesh are tottering at 177 for the loss of nine wickets before the bails were drawn for the second day.

Host confines touring side to 172/6

Banglaesh bowlers dominated over the Sri Lankan batsmen on the opening day of the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series as they restricted the touring side to 172 for the loss of six wickets at the close of first day's play at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

Banglasesh National Cricket team faces Sri Lanka National Cricket team in the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series which starts today at 9.30 AM at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live everyday from the stadium. It may be mention that the fourth day's play

of the Test match will not be held on December 29 due to national parliament elections. The fourth day's game will be held on December 30.

South Africa will be seeking convincing wins in their two-Test series against Bangladesh starting at Springbok Park Wednesday - but they don't want them to be too easy.

Mohammad Ashraful expects the pitches for the two Tests against South Africa to be similar to the one in Bangladesh's warm-up match in Kimberley.

A 15-member Bangladesh team left for South Africa on Saturday night to play a Twenty20 match and three one-day internationals followed by a two-Test series against the hosts.

Bangladesh team members are buoyant after a good test and ODI series at home against New Zealand.

The tour starts with a Twenty20 match on November 5 in Johannesburg.

Bangladesh cricket team members pose for photographs prior to their departure for South Africa at the Zia International Airport on Saturday night.

The first day match of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand was abandoned due to rain at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

It was dizzling since morning and it was continuing all the day.

Daryl Harper and Asoka De Silva, the two umpires were scheduled to inspect the pitch at 11.00 AM and 12.30 PM but they could not do their duty due to heavy rain.