The Bangladesh National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team timeline covers more than two decades of Test, ODI and T20I cricket. The rivalry began in the Test format in 2001 and has produced memorable World Cup matches, Asia Cup thrillers, dramatic Test battles and important victories for both sides.
Sri Lanka initially dominated the rivalry, particularly in Test cricket. Bangladesh gradually became more competitive, recording their first Test victory over Sri Lanka in 2017 and several important limited-overs wins. The 2024 T20 World Cup produced another major milestone when Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in a close group-stage match.
The rivalry continued into 2025 with a full all-format tour of Sri Lanka, while the teams also met in important competitions during 2026.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Cricket Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Competition/Series | Major Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Test cricket | Bangladesh and Sri Lanka begin their Test rivalry |
| 2003 | World Cup | Sri Lanka defeat Bangladesh by 10 wickets |
| 2007 | World Cup | Sri Lanka defeat Bangladesh by 64 runs |
| 2012 | Asia Cup | Bangladesh reach the final after major wins |
| 2013 | Test cricket | Bangladesh earn their first Test draw against Sri Lanka |
| 2014 | Test cricket | Muttiah Muralitharan’s 319 remains a landmark score |
| 2016 | T20I | Bangladesh record their first T20I win over Sri Lanka |
| 2017 | Test cricket | Bangladesh win their first Test against Sri Lanka |
| 2018 | Nidahas Trophy | Bangladesh defeat Sri Lanka in a dramatic chase |
| 2021 | Test cricket | Sri Lanka and Bangladesh play a high-scoring Test series |
| 2022 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by two wickets in a thriller |
| 2023 | World Cup | Bangladesh and Sri Lanka meet in Delhi |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | Bangladesh defeat Sri Lanka by two wickets |
| 2025 | Test series | Sri Lanka win the first series of the 2025-27 WTC cycle |
| 2025 | ODI series | Sri Lanka win the ODI series 2-1 |
| 2025 | T20I series | The teams continue their all-format rivalry |
| 2026 | Women’s cricket | Bangladesh women record their first ODI victory over Sri Lanka women |
| 2026 | Asia Cup | Bangladesh and Sri Lanka continue to meet in Asian competition |
2001: The Test Rivalry Begins
The modern Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry began in 2001, when Bangladesh entered the Test era and faced Sri Lanka in the longest format.
Sri Lanka were already an established international team, having won the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Bangladesh, meanwhile, had only recently gained Test status.
The early meetings therefore reflected a significant difference in experience. According to the ICC, Sri Lanka won all of the first 12 Test meetings between the teams from 2001 through 2013.
One of the most notable early encounters came in Colombo in 2001, when young Bangladesh batter Mohammad Ashraful scored a century on his Test debut.
2003: Sri Lanka Dominate at the World Cup
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka met at the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa.
Sri Lanka produced one of the most memorable bowling performances in World Cup history.
Chaminda Vaas took a hat-trick with the first three deliveries of the match, dismissing Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque.
Vaas eventually finished with 6/25, while Bangladesh were bowled out for 124.
Sri Lanka then chased the target without losing a wicket, winning by 10 wickets.
The match became particularly famous because Vaas became the first bowler to take three wickets from the first three balls of an ODI.
2007: Another World Cup Meeting
The teams met again during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.
Sri Lanka continued their strong World Cup record against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh were unable to match Sri Lanka’s overall performance, and the result contributed to Sri Lanka’s progress through the tournament.
Sri Lanka went on to reach the final, while Bangladesh’s campaign ended during the Super Eight stage.
2012: Bangladesh Make Progress in the Asia Cup
The 2012 Asia Cup was an important tournament in Bangladesh’s development.
Playing at home, Bangladesh defeated both India and Sri Lanka during the tournament and reached the final.
Their victory over Sri Lanka was particularly significant because it demonstrated Bangladesh’s growing ability to compete with established Asian teams.
Bangladesh ultimately lost the final to Pakistan by two runs, but the tournament represented an important stage in the country’s limited-overs development.
2013: Bangladesh Earn Their First Test Draw Against Sri Lanka
A major shift in the Test rivalry occurred in 2013.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka played a high-scoring Test in Galle that ended in a draw.
Bangladesh scored 638 in their first innings, while Sri Lanka responded with 570.
Mushfiqur Rahim scored Bangladesh’s first Test double century, while the match produced a remarkable total of 1,613 runs.
The ICC noted that only 19 wickets fell and eight centuries were scored. It was also Bangladesh’s first Test draw against Sri Lanka after a sequence of 12 defeats.
2014: Muralitharan’s Record-Breaking 319
The 2014 Test series produced another historic statistical milestone.
In the Chattogram Test, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne produced huge batting performances, while Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to contain the visitors.
The match is also remembered for the extraordinary 319 scored by Muttiah Muralitharan in a Test against Bangladesh, the highest individual score in the Test rivalry at that point. The ICC later described it as the highest individual score in Tests between the two nations.
2016: Bangladesh Record Their First T20I Win
The rivalry expanded significantly in the shortest format.
Bangladesh recorded their first T20I victory over Sri Lanka during the 2016 Asia Cup.
Bangladesh won by 23 runs after posting a competitive total.
Sabbir Rahman played a major role with the bat, while Bangladesh’s bowling attack defended the target effectively.
The ICC described the result as Bangladesh’s first victory over Sri Lanka in T20Is after losing their first four meetings in the format.
2017: Bangladesh Win Their First Test Against Sri Lanka
One of the biggest milestones in the Bangladesh National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team timeline arrived in March 2017.
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in Colombo to record their first-ever Test victory over Sri Lanka.
The victory came in Bangladesh’s 100th Test match.
Shakib Al Hasan played an important all-round role, while several Bangladesh players contributed during the match.
The result ended Sri Lanka’s unbeaten record in the first 12 Test meetings between the teams.
The ICC noted that Bangladesh had won their first Test against Sri Lanka after Sri Lanka dominated the rivalry’s opening years.
2018: Nidahas Trophy Thriller
The 2018 Nidahas Trophy produced one of the most dramatic Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I matches.
Bangladesh chased a challenging target in Colombo, with Mushfiqur Rahim producing an important innings.
The match also became famous for a tense final over and controversy surrounding the Bangladesh dugout.
Bangladesh eventually completed the chase, creating a memorable victory over the hosts.
The result helped Bangladesh reach the tournament final, although India eventually won the Nidahas Trophy.
2021: High-Scoring Test Series
Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka in 2021 for a two-Test series.
The first Test in Pallekele produced an enormous amount of batting.
Bangladesh posted 541/7 declared, with Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto producing a substantial opening partnership.
Sri Lanka responded with a huge total of their own.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 244, while Dhananjaya de Silva made 166.
The match ended in a draw after both teams accumulated enormous totals. The ICC highlighted the remarkable 322-run partnership between Karunaratne and de Silva.
Sri Lanka won the second Test, giving them a 1-0 series victory.
2022: Sri Lanka Win an Asia Cup Thriller
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka met again in the 2022 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Bangladesh scored 183/7 after batting first.
Sri Lanka’s chase initially appeared to be in serious trouble. They fell to 77/4 and later reached 158/7.
However, Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive.
Sri Lanka eventually completed the chase with two wickets remaining.
The ICC described the victory as Sri Lanka’s second-highest successful T20I chase at that time and the highest successful T20I chase in the UAE.
2023: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka at the World Cup
The teams met during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.
The match in Delhi was notable for an unusual dismissal involving Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews, who became the first batter in international cricket to be timed out.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 279, while Bangladesh successfully chased the target.
Angelo Mathews’ dismissal became one of the most discussed incidents of the tournament and added another memorable chapter to the rivalry.
2024: Bangladesh Win at the T20 World Cup
The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup produced another important Bangladesh-Sri Lanka encounter.
Sri Lanka batted first in Dallas and scored 124/9.
Bangladesh’s bowling attack, led by Rishad Hossain, kept the Sri Lankan batting under pressure.
Bangladesh then chased the target but lost wickets regularly.
Towhid Hridoy and Litton Das helped stabilize the innings before Sri Lanka fought back through Nuwan Thushara.
Bangladesh ultimately reached the target with six balls remaining and two wickets in hand.
Rishad Hossain took 3/22 and was named Player of the Match. The victory gave Bangladesh an important win in Group D.
2025: Bangladesh Tour Sri Lanka for an All-Format Series
One of the most important recent chapters came in 2025.
Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka for:
- Two Tests
- Three ODIs
- Three T20Is
The tour began in June and continued into July.
The two-Test series also opened the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle for both teams.
The ODI series followed in July, with matches in Colombo and Pallekele.
2025 ODI Series
Sri Lanka won the opening ODI by 77 runs after Bangladesh suffered a dramatic batting collapse.
Bangladesh had reached 100/1 before losing seven wickets for just five runs.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Kamindu Mendis combined for seven wickets as Sri Lanka dismissed Bangladesh for 167.
Bangladesh responded by winning the second ODI by 16 runs.
The deciding third ODI went Sri Lanka’s way.
Kusal Mendis scored 124 from 115 deliveries, helping Sri Lanka reach 285/7. Bangladesh were then dismissed for 186.
Sri Lanka won the three-match ODI series 2-1, with Mendis finishing as Player of the Series.
2026: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Continue Their Rivalry
The rivalry remained active in 2026 across international cricket.
The two countries continued to meet in Asian competitions, while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s women’s teams also produced several historic encounters.
In September 2026, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh met during the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai, with Sri Lanka winning a closely fought match to progress to the semifinals.
The men’s rivalry therefore continues alongside the growing women’s rivalry between the two cricket nations.
Major Turning Points in Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Cricket
1. Sri Lanka’s early dominance
Sri Lanka controlled the early Test rivalry, winning all 12 of the first Test meetings between 2001 and 2013.
2. Bangladesh’s 2013 Test breakthrough
The 2013 Galle Test ended Bangladesh’s run of Test defeats against Sri Lanka and showed their ability to compete over five days.
3. Bangladesh’s first Test win in 2017
Bangladesh finally defeated Sri Lanka in a Test in Colombo in 2017.
4. T20I breakthrough
Bangladesh recorded their first T20I win over Sri Lanka in 2016, beginning a more competitive period in the shortest format.
5. 2024 T20 World Cup
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets in Dallas in one of their most important recent ICC tournament victories.
6. 2025 ODI rivalry
Sri Lanka won the 2025 ODI series 2-1 after Bangladesh levelled the contest in the second match.
Memorable Players in the Rivalry
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib has been one of Bangladesh’s most influential players against Sri Lanka across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. His all-round ability was particularly important during Bangladesh’s development in the 2010s.
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur has produced several important innings against Sri Lanka, including his double century during the 2013 Galle Test.
Tamim Iqbal
Tamim has been an important opening batter for Bangladesh in the rivalry. His partnerships with other Bangladesh batters helped the team compete in long-form cricket.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Muralitharan was a defining figure in Sri Lanka’s early dominance. His 319 in Chattogram remains one of the biggest individual performances in the Test rivalry.
Kumar Sangakkara
Sangakkara produced several major batting performances against Bangladesh during Sri Lanka’s dominant period.
Kusal Mendis
Mendis has emerged as an important modern Sri Lankan batter. His 124 in the 2025 ODI series decider helped Sri Lanka secure the series 2-1.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Important ICC Matches
| Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Cricket World Cup | Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets |
| 2007 | Cricket World Cup | Sri Lanka won |
| 2012 | Asia Cup | Bangladesh recorded a major win |
| 2016 | T20I/Asia Cup | Bangladesh won by 23 runs |
| 2022 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets |
| 2023 | Cricket World Cup | Bangladesh won |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | Bangladesh won by 2 wickets |
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Story
Historically, Sri Lanka have held the stronger overall record, particularly in Test and ODI cricket.
The ICC reported in 2022 that Sri Lanka had won 17 of the first 23 Test meetings, while Bangladesh had won only once at that point.
However, the gap has narrowed in certain formats.
Bangladesh have recorded significant T20I victories and have defeated Sri Lanka in important ICC matches, including the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The rivalry has therefore evolved from one dominated by Sri Lanka into a more competitive contest, particularly in limited-overs cricket.
FAQs About Bangladesh National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline
When did Bangladesh and Sri Lanka first play Test cricket?
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka first met in Test cricket in 2001. Sri Lanka dominated the early years of the rivalry.
When did Bangladesh first beat Sri Lanka in a Test?
Bangladesh recorded their first Test victory over Sri Lanka in 2017, winning by four wickets in Colombo.
Who won the first 12 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Test matches?
Sri Lanka won all of the first 12 Test meetings between the teams from 2001 through 2013.
When did Bangladesh first draw a Test against Sri Lanka?
Bangladesh’s first Test draw against Sri Lanka came in 2013 in Galle. The match produced 1,613 runs and only 19 wickets.
Who scored 319 against Bangladesh?
Muttiah Muralitharan scored 319 in a Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2014. It remains a landmark individual score in the Test rivalry.
When did Bangladesh first beat Sri Lanka in T20Is?
Bangladesh’s first T20I victory over Sri Lanka came in the 2016 Asia Cup, when Bangladesh won by 23 runs.
Who won the 2022 Asia Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by two wickets in a dramatic group-stage match in the 2022 Asia Cup.
Who won the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match at the 2024 T20 World Cup?
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets in Dallas. Bangladesh chased 125 with six balls remaining.
Who won the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka ODI series in 2025?
Sri Lanka won the three-match ODI series 2-1 in July 2025. Kusal Mendis scored 124 in the deciding ODI.
How many matches were played during Bangladesh’s 2025 tour of Sri Lanka?
The 2025 tour consisted of two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, making it an eight-match all-format tour.
What was special about the 2003 World Cup match?
Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas took a hat-trick with the first three deliveries of the match and finished with 6/25. Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets.
Conclusion
The Bangladesh National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team timeline represents a rivalry that has changed considerably since its beginning in 2001.
Sri Lanka dominated the early Test encounters, winning the first 12 meetings. Bangladesh gradually closed the gap, earning their first Test draw in 2013, their first Test victory in 2017 and important T20I victories during the following years.
Major World Cup encounters, the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, the 2022 Asia Cup thriller and Bangladesh’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory have added memorable chapters to the rivalry.
The 2025 all-format tour further demonstrated the regularity of the contest, with Sri Lanka winning the ODI series 2-1. As both countries continue to develop their Test, ODI and T20I teams, Bangladesh-Sri Lanka matches remain an important part of Asian international cricket.
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