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Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka (2023)

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Afghanistan's preparations for this year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will go up a gear when they travel to Sri Lanka next month for a three-match ODI series against the island nation.

Experienced left-hander Hashmatullah Shahidi will once again lead Afghanistan during the tour, with selectors naming a strong 15-player squad and four reserves on Monday for the three-match series that commences in Hambantota on June 2.

Young all-rounder Abdul Rahman wins a recall on the back of some strong performances in Afghanistan's domestic One Day Cup competition, while Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Gulbadin Naib are named among the reserves.

Afghanistan have already qualified for this year's World Cup courtesy of their seventh-placed finish in the recently-completed ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League and will be confident of a strong showing against Sri Lanka and in the 50-over showcase scheduled for the end of the year.

Hashmatullah's side currently have three bowlers ranked inside the top 10 on the MRF Tyres ODI Bowler Rankings, with Rashid Khan (sixth), Mujib ur Rahman (eighth) and Mohammad Nabi (10th) forming an imposing attack alongside emerging quick Fazalhaq Farooqi and young spinner Noor Ahmad.

Afghanistan Cricket Board chair Mirwais Ashraf believes his squad is shaping well ahead of this year's World Cup and expects a strong performance during the Sri Lanka tour.

"It's good to have a couple of young faces for the series; the build-up for the ICC Cricket World Cup has already begun, and we are looking for every possible opportunity to build a good combination of the team and prepare them well for the event," Ashraf said.

Afghanistan Squad: 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

Series schedule:

First ODI: June 2, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
Second ODI: June 4, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
Third ODI: June 7, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
 
Sri Lanka are set to ramp up their Cricket World Cup Qualifier preparation with a three-match ODI series at home against Afghanistan.

Up-and-coming pacer Matheesha Pathirana could make his ODI debut after an impressive title-winning IPL season as he was included in the 16-member squad for the first two ODIs of the Afghanistan series.

Afghanistan name strong 15-player squad for Sri Lanka ODI series
Nicknamed 'Baby Malinga' for their similar round-arm action, Pathirana is capped in T20Is for Sri Lanka but is yet to feature in the longer formats. The returning Dushmantha Chameera, who is back after a long injury layoff, will lead the pace attack.

While Sri Lanka have looked to infuse youth, they have also chosen to go with the experience of Dimuth Karunaratne to strengthen their batting, who last featured for the Islanders in the 50-over format in 2021.

Kusal Perera missed out on the squad due to a hamstring injury, making way for Sadeera Samarawickrama to return to the ODI setup after four years.

Dasun Shanaka will lead the squad in the ODI series that commences on 2 June in Hambantota, which would be the perfect dress rehearsal for Sri Lanka before they head to Zimbabwe for the World Cup Qualifier.

Squad for the 1st two ODIs against Afghanistan: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha.

Sri Lanka are yet to name their squad for the World Cup Qualifier but will be looking to retain much of the core group for the tournament. The former Champions are placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Scotland, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, with their campaign kicking off on 19 June against UAE.

ICC
 
Low Back Injury rules Rashid Khan out of the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan’s Bowling Ace Rashid Khan has sustained a low back injury which forces him out of the first two games against @OfficialSLC.
 
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI

Afghanistan have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka(c), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara
 
Slowish from Sri Lanka and have lost top 3 also

SL 73/3 (17.4) CRR: 4.13
 
SL 268 (50)
AFG 17/0 (2.5) CRR: 6 REQ: 5.34
Afghanistan need 252 runs

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Would an AFG win be considered an upset?
 
SL 268 (50)
AFG 17/0 (2.5) CRR: 6 REQ: 5.34
Afghanistan need 252 runs

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Would an AFG win be considered an upset?

Forget upset - Afghanistan looking like trouncing SL!

SL 268 (50)
AFG 111/1 (17.4) CRR: 6.28 REQ: 4.89
Afghanistan need 158 runs
 
Embarrassment for SL coming up soon:

Afghanistan need 21 runs in 35 balls
 
AFG's second highest run-chase and they have once again won the series opener in Sri Lanka, as they did in 2022. They only managed to draw that series 1-1, but they've a chance to go better this time around and clinch the series on Sunday. For Sri Lanka, winning is important, but it's not more important than getting their combination right for the all-important World Cup qualifiers, starting on June 18th in Zimbabwe. They'll rotate their players around and will also look to bounce back in two days time.
 
IPL's 'legend in the making' Pathirana thrashed by Afghanistan batters.
 
Forget upset - Afghanistan looking like trouncing SL!

SL 268 (50)
AFG 111/1 (17.4) CRR: 6.28 REQ: 4.89
Afghanistan need 158 runs

Afg has beaten SRL thrice in last 6 ODI meetings, SL has won 2 while 1 has been no result. And it's just not about H2H, Afg have already qualified for the WC while SRL will be playing the qualifiers
 
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 2nd ODI

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha
 
Good recovery after losing an early wicket for SL - but need to score big now as Afg batters are no slouches

SL 84/1 (16.4) CRR: 5.04
 
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Slowish start and the required run rate is mounting

AFG 45/1 (12) CRR: 3.75 REQ: 7.34
 
Afghanistan need 162 runs in 90 balls

Afg going down - target is too big for them - simply never got going/
 
SL 323/6 (50)
AFG 191 (42.1) CRR: 4.53
Sri Lanka won by 132 runs

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Afghanistan goose was cooked once SL hit those 300+ runs!

But they seemed to be doing ok at 146/2 but then collapsed to 191 all out - an emphatic win for Sri Lanka levels the series!
 
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Afghanistan Head Coach Jonathan Trott has admitted that he is unsure of Rashid Khan's participation in the series decider against Sri Lanka at Hambantota on June 7.

Sri Lanka levelled the series by earning a comprehensive 132-run win over the tourists on Sunday.

Ahead of the series, Rashid was ruled out of the opening two games due to a back issue but Trott said on Sunday that they will make a call on him only after assessing his condition ahead of the third game.

"We will just check and see on his fitness and see how his back's feeling and then you will know when the team is announced on Wednesday," Trott said regarding Rashid's availability in the do-or-die game.

Trott pointed out Afghanistan's poor start with the ball and the finish where they conceded too many runs as the primary reason for the defeat. "I think we didn't start well enough with the ball and throughout the middle overs we were consistent enough and obviously they have got in last 10 overs 109 runs and so that's not great," he said.

"When you lose a 50-over game by a margin of over a 100 runs you didn't do much right. So that's where we are and that's what we need to improve for next game.

"We have a day off tomorrow and practice on Tuesday and obviously the game was on Wednesday and its about the process in this game and getting it flushed from the memory looking forward to the next game which will be I am sure a very good game," he said.

In the run chase, Trott believes Afghanistan were not proactive and failed to put pressure on the Sri Lankan attack. Afghanistan had only 144 runs on the board after the first 30 overs while chasing 324. "With the bat we were obviously behind the rate," he said. "Chameera came and bowled pretty well and I think we allowed them bowl well at certain times and perhaps didn't put enough pressure back on the Sri Lankan bowlers when chasing that target and so that's what we have got to work on for the next game."

Cricbuzz
 
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI

Afghanistan have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Fareed Ahmad Malik

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara
 
Sri Lanka hit Afghanistan early in the innings

AFG 27/2 (4.4) CRR: 5.79
 
Mega thrashing for Afghanistan.

AFG 116 (22.2)SL 120/1 (16)Sri Lanka won by 9 wkts

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Sri Lanka have thumped Afghanistan in the last two ODIs. Will keep them in good stead going forward. Dimuth's return to the ODI fold has allowed Nissanka to be the free spirited batter he is. Mendis at three adds a lot of meat. There is the experience of Mathews and power of Asalanka and Shanaka. Not to miss the mercurial DDS. Not a bad batting line up going forward. Their bowling also looked very decent. The pacers hitting the right straps would increase their chances at the qualifiers. Afghanistan will meet Bangladesh next whereas Sri Lanka go on to play the qualifiers.
 
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That is the biggest problem of Afghanistan.

Temperament wise their batsmen are very much immatured.

Just look at today's scorecard. Their strike rate is reading like thia- 133,100,110,95 but they are bowled inside 23 overs!!!
 
Kabul, 7 June 2023: Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Selection Committee today finalized a 15-member squad for the one-off test match against Bangladesh which will be played from 14th to 18th June in Mirpur.

Fast Bowling Duo of Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai & Nijat Masoud and the Young leggie Izharulhaq Naweed have been added to the 15-man squad. Medium-pace bowling All-rounder Karim Janat, who put on an incredible all-round performance in the recently-held Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament and was awarded the best player of the tournament, has also been called up to the side.

Afghanistan Squad for the one-off test against Bangladesh:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Afsar Zazai (WK), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah, Nasir Jamal, Karim Janat, Zahir Khan, Izharulhaq Naweed, Hamza Hotak, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Yamin Ahmadzai and Nijat Masoud.

Zia ur Rahman Akbar, Noor Ali Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai and Sayed Ahmad Shirzad are part of the reserve players for the tour.

https://cricket.af/post/acb-name-squad-for-one-off-test-against-bangladesh
 
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