𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐈𝐏𝐋 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 🏏👉
Sri Lanka
Afghanistan
As cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the clash between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI of their series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter.
The one-off Test was won by the hosts Sri Lanka who will be confident to dominate at home.
Sri Lanka, having secured two victories and suffered two defeats in their last five ODIs, along with one result, are striving for consistency. Meanwhile, Afghanistan enters the fray with a slightly more favorable recent record, boasting three victories and two losses in their last five ODI outings.
The memory of Afghanistan's convincing 7-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup looms large, adding an extra layer of anticipation to this encounter. As both sides seek to assert their dominance early in the series, fans can expect a closely fought battle filled with exciting cricketing moments.
Shahidi has scored 369 runs in the last 10 matches on an average of 52.71.
The betting tip is...
Hashmatullah Shahidi will score over 51.5 runs.
62 %
38 %
Sri LankaAfghanistanCaptain Kusal Mendis will take charge of the Sri Lankan side, showcasing his impressive captaincy skills and recent batting form. Additionally, Mendis will handle the wicketkeeping duties, sharing the responsibility with Sadeera Samarawickrama.
The return of opener Pathum Nissanka adds a lot of value to the squad, with the young talent highly regarded since his international debut in 2021. Nissanka, alongside Avishka Fernando and Shevon Daniel, is poised to provide stability and firepower at the top of the order. Dasun Shanka is not a part of the squad.
The team boasts a plethora of all-rounders, including Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Chamika Karunaratne, Sahan Arachchige, and Wanindu Hasaranga, adding versatility to both the batting and bowling line-ups.
Leading the bowling attack will be Maheesh Theekshana, supported by Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dhananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, and Pramod Madushan, forming a formidable unit capable of dismantling the opposition's batting order.
Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Shevon Daniel, Kusal Mendis (c,wk), Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka
Predicted Lineup: Nissanka will be a part of the lineup.
Afghanistan will face the challenge of missing the services of their star player Rashid Khan. Despite this setback, the team is led by Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, with Rahmat Shah serving as vice-captain. The top order will be anchored by the likes of Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, and wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, providing stability and firepower.
Former captain Gulbadin Naib, known for his all-round skills, will be a key asset for Afghanistan, alongside the experienced Mohammad Nabi, who brings a wealth of international experience to the team.
The bowling attack will be spearheaded by the trio of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooqi. These bowlers have honed their skills and gained valuable international exposure in recent years, making them formidable threats capable of dismantling any batting order.
We predict all-rounders Naib, Nabi and Omarzai to play the match.
Predicted Lineup: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
The two sides have played 12 ODIs in the past. In past encounters, Sri Lanka has won 7 matches while Afghanistan has won 4. One game ended without a result.
In the 5 ODIs, Sri Lanka has secured 2 victories, suffered 2 losses, and had 1 no result. On the other hand, Afghanistan boasts a slightly more favourable record with 3 wins and 2 losses.
The last time the two sides locked horns in ODIs was in the ICC World Cup 2023, where Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets. Afghanistan has become a much better limited-overs side in the last 2 years and their recent results are proof of that.
We are predicting a win for Afghanistan in a closely fought encounter.
