Sri Lanka takes on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series starting with the first ODI in Pallekele on Friday, February 9. The match starts at 2.30 p.m. IST. All the mat
ches will be played in Pallekele and they will be day-night games.
Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan in the Only Test heading into this series. Their first innings score of 439 was a bit too much for the inexperienced Afghanistan side. They scored 196 and 292 in the two innings. Sri Lanka chased down 56 in a canter in the second innings and won the match by 10 wickets.
This ODI series is expected to be a more competitive series. Sri Lanka lost to Afghanistan when they last met in the 50-over World Cup. They were also pushed to the brink in the recently concluded ODI series against Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka will be eld by Kusal Mendis. He has a full-strength squad with his key batters and bowlers both available. They have a good bowling attack with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana both available. He also has his key pacers Dusmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka available for the series as well.
In 12 ODI matches between the two sides Sri Lanka have won seven matches while Afghanistan four. In this article, we predict Sri Lanka’s playing XI for the first ODI in Pallekele.
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Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI, 2024
Pathum Nissanka
Nissanak will open the batting. The next ODI will be his 50th for the national team. He is approaching 2000 runs in ODI cricket. He missed out from the Zimbabwe series due to reports of dengue.
Aviskha Fernando
Fernando will open the batting with Nissanka. He is a talented batter but has not made the most of his opportunities. He is six soft of 1000 ODI runs for his national team. He has played 32 ODIs since making his ODI debut in 2016.
Kusal Mendis (C/WK)
Mendis will lead the side and also keep. He scored 294 runs in the World Cup and was the vice-captain of the side. He is now the full-time ODI skipper.
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera will bat at four. He also played in the World Cup and played well alongside Mendis. He can bat anywhere from three to five and is capable of anchoring the innings.
Charith Asalanka
Asalanka will bat at five. He has played 53 ODI matches and approaching close to 2000 ODI runs. He plays with an attacking intent and can also bowl some overs. He is a good all-round cricketer.
Janith Liyanage
Liyanage will bat at six. He played a few crucial knocks in the ODI series against Zimbabwe and pulled the team out of trouble. He already has a best score of 95 in just three ODIs.
Wanindu Hasaranga
Hasaranga will slot in at seven. He is the T20I skipper of Sri Lanka. He was recently paying for the Desert Vipers in the ILT20 2024. The next ODI will be his 50th. He has taken 74 wickets in the format. He played in the last ODI against Zimbabwe.
Dunith Wellalage
Wellalage the left-arm spinning all-rounder will slot in at eight to lengthen the batting lineup. He has played 18 ODIs and has a best of 42. He also has 21 wickets.
Maheesh Theekshana
Theekshana will slot in at nine. He was playing for the Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20. The leggie is a good lower-order batter as well. He has picked up 55 wickets from 38 ODIs.
Dusmantha Chameera
Chameera will lead the pace attack. he missed the ODI World Cup with a hamstring injury but played in the series against Zimbabwe. He played his last ODI in the final ODI against Zimbabwe.
Dilshan Madushanka
Madushanka concludes the likely playing XI for Sri Lanka in the first ODI against Afghanistan. The left-arm pacer cracked a deal with Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He last played in the third ODI against Zimbabwe.
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