SL vs AFG 1st ODI Match Prediction

SL vs AFG Team Previews

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is going to be playing at home and will start out as clear favorites. Sri Lanka's recent white-ball exploits have been quite encouraging and the team is showing signs of moving back up the ranks. It is the current Asia Cup champion as well. 

The batting is going to be led by Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendia. Both of them are excellent white-ball players with Nissanka quickly becoming the primary batter of the Sri Lankan side. The middle order boasts of players like Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, anmd Chamika Karunaratne. 

Even Wanindu Hasaranga is a capable batter.

In terms of depth, Sri Lanka is well covered. We like Dhananjaya de Silva as a potential top-scorer for Sri Lanka in this match because he is so good against spin. 

The bowling unit for Sri Lanka looks a bit thin in terms of experience and even quality. Kasun Rajitha and Dushmanth Chameera are expected to play as the fast-bowlers with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana as the spinners. 

The fifth bowler could be a combination of all-rounders like Karunaratne, Shanaka, Mathews, or Dhanajaya de Silva.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan is playing an ODI after almost 7 months and has also not had too much cricket in other formats. Some of Afghanistan's leading players play in franchise cricket aroudn the world but that is not the same thing as playing together. 

There is some rustiness that is expected from Afghanistan when they step on to the field.

Despite this, there is no doubt that Afghanistan has some very talented players. Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and Hashmatullah Shahidi are the three leading ODI batters in the lineup while someone like Rahmanullah Gurbaz is obviously very dangerous as well. 

Rashid Khan not being available is a big loss but Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, and Mujeeb ur Rahman should be able to compensate for his absence. With Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Malik to lead the bowling lineup, Afghanistan's bowling attack is very strong. 

If they can get the runs on the boatrd, Afghanistan is going to be hard to beat. In the past, they have also struggled to adapt their skills to the longer format where patience is also a necessity.