The 1st ODI match of the Afghanistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2023 will take place between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan on the 2nd of June, 2023 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
Current ODI Form Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka’s performance in ODIs has been below par lately. They suffered a 2-0 defeat against New Zealand in a recent three-match series, and earlier this year, they were convincingly beaten 3-0 by India.
Despite their recent struggles, Sri Lanka possesses several match-winners in their squad and can be a formidable force in their home conditions.
Key Players to Watch:
Dimuth Karunaratne – A surprise inclusion in the Sri Lankan squad, Karunaratne has been consistently impressive in Test cricket and has the potential to excel in white-ball cricket as well.
Matheesha Pathirana – Pathirana showcased his talent with an excellent performance in the recently concluded IPL, and he will be eager to make an impact in the upcoming series against Afghanistan.
Current ODI Form Afghanistan:
Afghanistan’s last ODI series took place in November last year against Sri Lanka, where they managed to level the series 1-1.
In June 2022, Afghanistan dominated Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series, winning all the games.
Based on Afghanistan’s strong T20 form, they are expected to provide tough competition to the hosts in the upcoming bilateral series.
Key Players to Watch:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Although Gurbaz didn’t have a great IPL season, he has been phenomenal in international cricket. He is a player to keep an eye on in the Afghanistan squad.
Noor Ahmad – Ahmad proved his worth on the global stage with his performances in IPL 2023, playing a crucial role for the Gujarat Titans. He will be a key asset for Afghanistan in the upcoming ODIs against Sri Lanka.
Ground Prediction:
Previous matches at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium have witnessed high-scoring encounters, indicating the likelihood of big scores in the upcoming matches at this venue.
Squads:
Sri Lanka – Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (vc & wk), Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana
Afghanistan – Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhail (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujib ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Abdul Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Farid Ahmad Malik.
Reserves: Gulbadin Naib, Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia ur Rahman Akbar
Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions – PrePlay:
Toss Winner: Sri Lanka
Match Winner: Sri Lanka
Top Run Scorer: Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan)
Top Wicket Taker: Chamika Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan)
Most Sixes: Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan)
Player of the Match: Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
Projected Team Scores