SL vs AFG Match Preview- Only Test, 2024

The SL vs AFG Only Test will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo from February 2-6. The match kicks off an all-format series that includes three ODIs and three T20Is as well. The tour concludes with the third T20I on February 21.

Afghanistan will be led by Hasmatullah Shahidi. ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf thanked the SLC for agreeing to play the only Test with Afghanistan. The Afghans are set to play a few more Test matches this year and the Chairman sees this as progress in their cricket.

Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, the Chief Selector further spoke about the team’s 10-day conditioning camp in Abu Dhabi as a preparation for the Test match. Afghanistan played seven Test matches since gaining Test status in 2018. However, they have yet to win a single Test match and this could be a momentous occasion.

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka recently played each other in the World Cup. Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka in the tournament and hence the SL vs AFG white-ball leg is expected to be a much closer contest.

Rashid Khan is the major name missing from the Afghanistan Test squad. He underwent a lower-back surgery in the UK after which he has been rehabilitating. He even skipped the T20 leagues and was eventually ruled out from the SA20.

The SL vs AFG Test match is not a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-35 cycle. SL are placed last on the table having played two and lost two Test matches. The Lankans played their last Test series against Pakistan and lost the series.

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SL vs AFG Match Preview- Only Test, 2024

Afghanistan

This is Afghanistan’s first-ever Test match against Sri Lanka. They have played 12 ODIs with the Lankans winning seven matches and Afghanistan winning four. In four T20Is, the Afghans have won just one while Sri Lanka three.

The ACB has named a 16-member squad with maiden call-ups to right-arm quick Naveed Zadran and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq. Uncapped batter Noor Ali Zadran and left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman were also named in the 16-man squad for the Colombo Test.

With Rashid Khan unavailable, Qais Ahmed was named as his replacement, Afghanistan as a team have only played seven Test matches and this team has many uncapped players. Given the conditions, Afghanistan will need to sort out their playing XI, especially their bowling attack, and have enough depth and variation with the ball.

Afghanistan Squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah, Nasir Jamal, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Nijat Masoud, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Naveed Zadran

Sri Lanka

The Lankans will be playing under their new skipper Dhahnanjaya de Silva. The SLC changed their captains across formats with Kusal Mendis named the ODI skipper and Wanindu Hasaranga the T20I skipper.

Sri Lanka have a good mix of youth and experience in their squad. They have recalled their veteran players Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chamdimal. Mendis is also the backup keeper in the squad.

Bowling wise they have the Fernando brothers, Vishwa and Ajitha. They also have Kasun Rajitha and Prabath Jayasuriya. All of them are expected to play in the Test against Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka Squad

Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Nishan Madushka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, , Sadeera Samarawickrama(w), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Gunasekara, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando

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