Bangladesh To Tour of Sri Lanka for All-Format Series in June 2025

06 May 2025 ScoreWaves Staff view

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Bangladesh gear up for a full-fledged tour of Sri Lanka, featuring Tests, ODIs, and T20Is across June and July. It’s going to be a busy schedule, and it all kicks off with the longer format — the first real taste of red-ball action for both teams in the new World Test Championship cycle.

The Test leg of the tour begins on June 17, with matches slated for two iconic venues: Galle and the SSC in Colombo. These will mark the opening games for both sides in the 2025–27 WTC, making them particularly significant. For Bangladesh, this is one of just two Test series on the calendar for the rest of the year — the other being a non-WTC series against Ireland. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka don’t have another Test series lined up until at least mid-2026, meaning this could be their only five-day cricket for a whole year.

Once the whites are packed away, attention shifts to the 50-over format, with three ODIs scheduled for July 2, 5, and 8. The first two matches will take place under lights in Colombo at Khettarama, before moving to Pallekele for the third. All three games will be day-night encounters, and for Sri Lanka fans, this is their only scheduled home series this year featuring all three formats.

The T20I series that follows is shaping up to be more than just another bilateral contest. With Sri Lanka set to co-host the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup alongside India, this series could be a bit of a dress rehearsal. While official venues for the World Cup haven’t been confirmed yet, Khettarama and Pallekele are strong contenders to host matches, with Dambulla also in the conversation.

The three-match T20I series begins on July 10 in Pallekele, then heads north to Dambulla for the second game on July 13, and finally returns to Colombo for the last match on July 16. These matches might not seem like headline-grabbers right now, but given the bigger picture — especially with the World Cup on the horizon — they carry plenty of weight. Adding to the intrigue, Bangladesh will head into this tour with a new T20I skipper in Litton Das, following his recent appointment. How he handles the role, especially in unfamiliar conditions, will be something to watch closely.

It’s also worth remembering the last time these two teams faced off in Sri Lanka in Tests. That was back in 2022, and although the first match ended in a draw, Sri Lanka went on to win the second Test convincingly by 209 runs. Bangladesh will no doubt be looking for redemption this time around. Before they land in Sri Lanka, though, Bangladesh will be busy in the shortest format. They’re set to play a two-match T20I series in the UAE, followed by a five-match T20I tour of Pakistan.