ICC Cricket World Cup Warm-up Matches Prediction | 8th ODI | Will Sri Lanka see the first victory after defeating the Afghans? | Oct 03, 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup Warm-up Matches 2023.
Sri Lanka has sent a second-string side with few skilled players to the Asian Games T20I. Sahan Arachchige, a batting all-rounder with two One-Day Internationals under his belt, will captain the team. Along with Sahan, many players on this team have yet to make their T20I debut. Afghanistan’s squad appears to be promising. They have some expert players in Naib and Shahzad, as well as Karim Janat and Qais Ahmed.
All four of these have participated in numerous international and global T20 cricket matches. The left-arm wrist spin bowler Zahir Khan has played for T20 franchises all over the world, including the CPL, BBL, and IPL to name a few, but he has yet to claim a wicket in T20Is.
Sri Lanka’s important hitters will be Ashen Bandara and Nuwanidu Fernando, while Nuwan Thusahara will be one to watch with the ball. The island nation will face a difficult battle as they face a strong bowling attack.
AFG vs SL Team Preview & Squads
Afghanistan
Gulbadin Naib oversees Afghanistan’s T20I team at the Asian Games for the second time. Naib, one of Afghanistan’s most seasoned players, is a dependable all-rounder who constantly delivers with the ball.
Mohammad Shahzad, an aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman, serves as vice-captain for this team. He will play a significant role in the top order. In the past, Shahzad has given the squad some solid starts. Afzar Zazai, a different wicket-keeper batsman, may be a significant player in the middle of the order. From the relatively young age of 16 years old, he has been performing on the domestic circuit.
While Noor Ali Zadran is expected to open the innings alongside Mohammad Shahzad, Afghanistan’s lineup is devoid of batters. The lineup is loaded with bowlers and all-rounders. Karim Janat is one such vital all-rounder to keep an eye on. He has demonstrated his ability to hit the deep ball on numerous occasions. He’s also deadly with the ball.
Qais Ahmed, a right-arm leg-break bowler, has made waves throughout the world by competing in all of the big T20 competitions. He will be the most valuable component in this bowling attack. Afghanistan boasts a good team that is capable of challenging any team in this competition.
Afghanistan Squads
Afghanistan
Gulbadin Naib (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Shahidullah, Noor Ali Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Afzar Zazai, Karim Janat, Sayed Shirzad, Zahir Khan, and Qais Ahmed.
Sri Lanka
Given that their top team will be in India practicing for the ICC World Cup 2023, it is inevitable for Sri Lanka to send an inexperienced squad to the Asian Games Men’s T20I.
They need all of their top talent in India right now, and their bench strength isn’t as strong as that of their neighboring country. As a result, we have a 15-man Sri Lankan squad with only four players having played in an international encounter.
As a batter lower in the order, Ashen Badara was a member of the 2022 T20 World Cup team. Since his debut in 2021 during Sri Lanka’s tour of the Windies, he has had little effect.
But now that he has played in four T20I innings, he is the most experienced batter on this team and will be the center of attention. Another important batsman to keep an eye out for is Nuwanidu Fernando, who made his ODI debut earlier this year against India and hit fifty runs.
Fernando will most likely bat first for Sri Lanka. Sahan Arachchige, the skipper, will be ranked fourth. Arachchine achieved a fifty against the Netherlands in his only ODI inning as Sri Lanka won the World Cup Qualifiers Final. This game will feature an entirely new bowling attack. Sri Lanka’s pace attack will be led by Nuwan Thushara.
Sri Lanka Squads
Sri Lanka
Sahan Arachchige (c), Lahiru Udara (wk), Nuwani Fernando, Ravindu Fernando, Nimesh Vimukthi, Ahan Wickramsinghe, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nuwan Thushara, Vijayankanth Viyaskanth, Isitha Wijesundera, and Ranitha Liyanarachchi.
Match Details
Match
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, 8th ODI | ICC Cricket World Cup Warm-up Matches 2023
Both teams’ bowling attacks feature promising spinners, and on their best day, they may bundle up the opposition for a par score. In this contest, bowling first should be the best option.
On the day of the game, the weather will be partly cloudy with a high of 29 degrees Celsius.
It is a well-balanced pitch in which both hitters and bowlers have performed admirably. There is also ample assistance available for spinners, and pacers can be effective with their cutters.
AFG vs SL Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches
To date, both sides have played eleven games against each other. Sri Lanka has the most wins seven, while Afghanistan has three.
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Prediction
Winning the toss
Sri Lanka
Player of the Match
Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis
Most runs
Afghanistan – Ibrahim Zadran
Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis
Most wickets
Afghanistan – Rashid Khan
Sri Lanka – Dunith Wellalage
Most sixes
Afghanistan – Ibrahim Zadran
Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis
Team Scores Batting First
Afghanistan – 270+
Sri Lanka – 290+
According to cricket analysts, Sri Lanka has a 57.8% chance to win.
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