The Pathirana query, Afghanistan’s rustiness, the spin battle, and extra
The Afghanistan males’s facet are going to the massive present, however Sri Lanka are but to qualify.
There is nuance to this. In the ODI World Cup Super League, Afghanistan’s oppositions had been Ireland, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. But then, they barely performed ODIs, regardless of having received 11 out of these 15 video games. Sri Lanka performed 24 matches, and received solely seven, which is why they completed tenth on the Super League table.
It is a testomony to Afghanistan’s rise – regardless of main challenges – and to Sri Lanka’s ODI collapse, that they meet in Hambantota as evenly-matched outfits. For Afghanistan, that is their first critical preparation for the World Cup in October-November. Sri Lanka, in the meantime, should get their one-day sport in gear forward of the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, beginning later this month.
Here are some issues to look out for on this three-match sequence.
Will Afghanistan be rusty?
Such is the lot of this staff that they haven’t performed a single ODI since November final yr, once they had been final in Sri Lanka for a sequence that was drawn 1-1. They have had some T20Is this yr, most just lately successful 2-1 against Pakistan in Sharjah in March. They’ve additionally only in the near past concluded the Green Afghanistan One Day Cup – their premier List A event – throughout which a number of of the nationwide squad surged into kind.
How will the spinners fare?
For a time, Wanindu Hasaranga may most likely declare to be on Rashid Khan‘s degree, however recently, Hasaranga’s performances have fallen away. There was a chasm between them on the IPL. Rashid was second-equal on the wicket-takers’ checklist, claiming 27 dismissals, with an financial system price of 8.23. Hasaranga took 9 wickets from eight matches, and went at 8.89 an over.
However, each spinners are more likely to miss the beginning of the sequence. Rashid is out with a back injury. Hasaranga is fighting a foot grievance. This means additional accountability will fall on the likes of Maheesh Theekshana – he’s contemporary from a good IPL – as additionally Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi. Afghanistan even have left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad of their squad, and he enters the sequence on the again of 16 wickets within the IPL.
Spinners will, nevertheless, should cope with the livid crosswind that tends to blow in Hambantota. Usually, this implies they tempt the batters to play their massive pictures into the wind.
Is Pathirana prepared for internationals?
Though not notably well-known in Sri Lanka in March, Chennai Super Kings and MS Dhoni made a weapon out of 20-year-old Matheesha Pathirana on the IPL, once they charged him steadily with closing out the innings. Though possessed of an motion that’s even decrease – and arguably slingier – than Lasith Malinga’s, Pathirana didn’t bowl with the brand new ball, and appeared to have critical limitations.
However, such is the hype round him at current that Sri Lanka could wish to attempt him out. But is he prepared for this format? And in matches the place there isn’t any Impact Player substitution – prefer it was in IPL – can he reliably ship new-ball overs?
Can each groups end their batting innings higher?
Since 2021, Sri Lanka have scored at a run price of solely 6.97 within the final ten overs of an ODI innings. A whopping 39% of the deliveries they’ve confronted in that portion have been dot balls. Clearly, there’s a lack of firepower decrease down within the center order, with Dasun Shanaka solely sporadically efficient, and the likes of Chamika Karunaratne and Hasaranga possessing restricted hitting capacity.
Perhaps the considering with bringing Dimuth Karunaratne again is that Sri Lanka will preserve wickets by the innings higher, and have the likes of Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva and even Charith Asalanka on the crease in the direction of the shut.
Afghanistan, in the meantime, have been solely barely higher within the final ten since 2021. They have scored at 7.18, with virtually 39% of deliveries confronted additionally being dots. Rashid has been their standout finisher in that point.