Sri Lanka received their one-off Take a look at match towards Afghanistan by 10 wickets, however skipper and captain Kusal Mendis mentioned Thursday they face a more durable problem on the eve of their three-match ODI sequence. Afghanistan are making a reputation for themselves in white-ball cricket, and can take the sector with a number of of their key stalwarts. “In ODIs, we all know Afghanistan can be more durable opponents,” Mendis advised reporters forward of the primary match at residence in Kandy on Friday. Within the two earlier sequence towards Sri Lanka, Afghanistan drew 1-1 in 2022, and had been crushed 2-1 in 2023.
However Afghanistan got here sixth in final yr’s ICC Cricket World Cup, the place they beat three former champions — England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“They’ve a whole lot of expertise these days due to league cricket,” Mendis added.
“They compete towards good gamers and play in all kinds of situations. They’ve come a great distance, and there is not a lot room for error with them.”
Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi mentioned he was assured that his aspect — the world’s ninth-ranked crew — is able to pulling off a sequence win over Sri Lanka, ranked seventh.
“We’re assured… We’ve got our skilled guys again within the aspect,” Shahidi mentioned.
“We’re taking part in good cricket in ODIs, as we showcased within the final World Cup. We’ve got proved that we’re top-of-the-line groups in ODI cricket,” he added.
– ‘Construct an assault’ –
Each groups will play three One Day Internationals at Pallekele in Kandy, with the following two matches on 11 and 14 February, adopted by three T20 matches in Dambulla.
Afghanistan’s opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, former captain Gulbadin Naib, left-arm fast Fazalhaq Farooqi and chinaman bowler Noor Ahmad are all again within the crew for the ODI leg of the tour.
“Fairly a number of of their skilled campaigners are returning to the aspect,” Mendis mentioned.
“They’ve a few batters who’re in kind too — however we’re assured of doing effectively in our personal yard.”
Sri Lanka has dropped former captain Dasun Shanaka because of poor kind, however have Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne and Dunith Wellalage as all-rounders.
“They’re all succesful gamers,” Mendis mentioned, including that “hopefully considered one of them will do the job for us”.
However whereas they had been decided to win, Mendis mentioned, there is no such thing as a quick objective from the ODI sequence.
Sri Lanka had been knocked out of the 2025 Champions Trophy — scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan — by ending ninth within the ODI World Cup.
“We’ve got struggled in ODI cricket fairly a bit in the previous couple of years,” mentioned Mendis, including that the island nation was “so disillusioned” to not qualify for the Champions Trophy.
“Our subsequent intention is to construct a crew for the (ODI) World Cup, which is three years away,” he mentioned.
“We all know the World Cup is in South Africa, so we have to construct an assault primarily based on quick bowlers.”
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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