The Sri Lanka Cricket Committee has announced the names of the 16 players who will represent the national team in the first two ODI matches against Afghanistan. This thrilling three-match ODI series is scheduled to take place from June 2 to June 7 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
Continuing in his role as the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team is Dasun Shanaka, while Kusal Mendis will serve as his deputy. However, there have been some noteworthy changes to the squad since their previous ODI series against New Zealand.
Dimuth Karunaratne, who leads the team in Test matches, has made his return to the ODI squad, adding valuable experience and leadership. On the other hand, Nuwanidu Fernando has been left out of the squad this time.
Three players who participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have also made it into the Sri Lankan squad. Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, and Maheesh Theekshana, who returned from the IPL, have been selected to represent their country.
Pathirana, who emerged as a champion in the IPL 2023 season, has the chance to make his ODI debut following an impressive performance in the premier T20 tournament.
On the other hand, Afghanistan also revealed their squad earlier this month, with Hashmatullah Shahidi leading the team instead of the renowned leg spinner, Rashid Khan. Check complete details on SL vs AFG ODI series schedule, and squads.
SL vs AFG ODI Series Schedule:
| Date | Format | Venue |
| 2nd June 2023 | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 1st ODI | MRICS, Hambantota |
| 4th June 2023 | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI | MRICS, Hambantota |
| 7th June 2023 | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI | MRICS, Hambantota |
SL Squad Afghanistan Series:
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 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 and Farid Ahmad Malik.
Series against Afghanistan serve as Sri Lanka’s preparation
The upcoming series against Afghanistan has been strategically planned by the Sri Lanka Cricket Committee to serve as vital preparation for the Sri Lankan players ahead of the crucial ICC World Cup Qualifier 2023. Sri Lanka was unable to secure direct qualification for the World Cup, necessitating their participation in the qualifier tournament.
In an effort to earn their spot in the highly anticipated World Cup 2023, the Sri Lankan team will be facing off against formidable opponents such as Ireland, Scotland, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the ICC World Cup Qualifier. This important tournament is scheduled to commence on June 19th.
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