The Afghanistan males’s aspect are going to the large present, however Sri Lanka are but to qualify.
There may be nuance to this. Within the ODI World Cup Tremendous League, Afghanistan’s oppositions had been Eire, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. However then, they barely performed ODIs, regardless of having gained 11 out of these 15 video games. Sri Lanka performed 24 matches, and gained solely seven, which is why they completed tenth on the Tremendous League desk.
It’s a testomony to Afghanistan’s rise – regardless of main challenges – and to Sri Lanka’s ODI collapse, that they meet in Hambantota as evenly-matched outfits. For Afghanistan, that is their first critical preparation for the World Cup in October-November. Sri Lanka, in the meantime, should get their one-day recreation in gear forward of the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, beginning later this month.
Listed below are some issues to look out for on this three-match sequence.
Will Afghanistan be rusty?
Such is the lot of this staff that they haven’t performed a single ODI since November final yr, after they had been final in Sri Lanka for a sequence that was drawn 1-1. They’ve had some T20Is this yr, most lately successful 2-1 in opposition to Pakistan in Sharjah in March. They’ve additionally only in the near past concluded the Inexperienced Afghanistan One Day Cup – their premier Checklist A event – throughout which a number of of the nationwide squad surged into kind.
How will the spinners fare?
For a time, Wanindu Hasaranga might most likely declare to be on Rashid Khan’s stage, however these days, Hasaranga’s performances have fallen away. There was a chasm between them on the IPL. Rashid was second-equal on the wicket-takers’ listing, claiming 27 dismissals, with an financial system price of 8.23. Hasaranga took 9 wickets from eight matches, and went at 8.89 an over.Nevertheless, each spinners are prone to miss the beginning of the sequence. Rashid is out with a again harm. Hasaranga is combating a foot grievance. This implies further accountability will fall on the likes of Maheesh Theekshana – he’s recent from an honest IPL – as additionally Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi. Afghanistan even have left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad of their squad, and he enters the sequence on the again of 16 wickets within the IPL.
Spinners will, nevertheless, should cope with the…
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