Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Asalanka said the rivalry narrative largely comes from the fans rather than the players.
“For us, it’s not really a rivalry. It’s more for the fans. As players, we just see it as a tough, competitive match. We want to put on a good performance against Bangladesh and against the other teams as well,” he explained.
Asked whether the fan-generated hype could act as extra motivation, the skipper admitted it might have some effect but stressed that Sri Lanka’s focus would remain on their basics.
“Maybe a little bit, yes. But for us, it’s just another game. We stick to our fundamentals and our plans,” Asalanka said.
Bangladesh enter the contest in good form, having beaten Hong Kong by seven wickets in their opener and earlier clinching a 2-1 T20I series win in Sri Lanka this year.
