In December 2017, Shakib Al Hasan was named the new captain of Bangladesh's Test squad, replacing Mushfiqur Rahim.[5] However, ahead of the Test series, Shakib suffered a hand injury during the final of the 2017–18 Bangladesh Tri-Nation Series, and Mahmudullah was named as captain of Bangladesh for the first Test.[6] It was Mahmudullah's first Test as captain and he became the tenth player to lead Bangladesh in Tests.[7][8] Mahmudullah also captained Bangladesh for the second Test, as Shakib was still recovering from his injury.[9] Sri Lanka won the Test series 1–0, after the first match was drawn.[10]
Shakib Al Hasan was also ruled out of the T20I series, and Mahmudullah once again named as captain in his place.[11][12] Sri Lanka won the T20I series 2–0.[13]
Ahead of the T20I series, Shakib Al Hasan's finger injury had not yet healed and he said he would be unlikely to play in the matches, despite being named as the captain of Bangladesh's T20I squad.[20] Shakib was ruled out of the first T20I due to his injury and Nazmul Islam was added to Bangladesh's squad as his replacement.[21]Mohammad Mithun was added to Bangladesh's squad as cover for Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim.[22]
Rangana Herath (SL) became the most successful left-arm bowler in Tests when he took his 415th wicket, going past Wasim Akram's (Pak) total of 414 wickets.[34]
