Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Cricketers play tribute to Andrew Symonds with one-minute silence before Chattogram Test

Half-an-hour before toss at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, the news of Andrew Symonds’ demise came to the fore.

Andrew Symonds being shown in Chattogram. Courtesy: Bangladesh Cricket Facebook

HIGHLIGHTS

On Sunday, Symonds passed away after a car crash
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat
Shakib Al Hasan got a chance to play

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka cricketers paid a heartwarming tribute to former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who passed away on Sunday, May 15 after a car crash. Prior to the ongoing opening Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, the players observed a one-minute silence. The news surfaced only half-an-hour before toss.

Symonds breathed his last at the age of 46 after he faced an accident outside Townsville where he lived in retirement. “Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash in Hervey Range, around 50 kilometers from Townsville that’s taken the life of a 46-year-old man last night,” Queensland police was quoted as saying in a statement.

Symonds played 198 ODIs and 26 Tests in his career that spanned 11 years, from 2008 to 2009. He was also a part of the 2003 and 2007 World Cup-winning Australia squad. Symonds also plied his trade for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

SRI LANKA BAT FIRST

As far as the Chattogram Test is concerned, the Lankans, led by Dimuth Karunaratne, won the toss and opted to bat first. Oshada Fernando, who made a comeback into the squad after missing the Test series against India, got a chance and scored 36 runs before getting out to Nayeem Hasan.

Before the match, there were doubts over Shakib Al Hasan’s participation after the veteran tested positive for COVID-19. Head coach Russell Domingo was also apprehensive of including him in the playing XI.

He said that a 50-60 percent Shakib may not pay a lot of dividends if given a chance to play. However, the Tigers roped Shakib in for the all-important match.