Check our Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing Team Picks for 1st ODI on February 9th
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are set for the 3-matches ODI series which begins on Friday. Pallekele International Cricket Stadium will host all the 3 matches. Sri Lanka has stuck to Kusal Mendis as their regular skipper for the One-Dayers after a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe last month. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be looking forward to their first assignment after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Sri Lanka Team gearing up for the first ODI against Afghanistan! #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/NWeBJolx4Q
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 9, 2024
Match Details:
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Date & Time: February 9th at 2:30 PM IST and Local Time
Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network and FanCode
What is the Pitch Report for SL vs AFG, 1st ODI?
The wicket stays true throughout the game, offering equal assistance for both batters and bowlers. Scores of less than 260 can be chaseable however it takes a toil to score more than that. Since it’s a fresh wicket the teams will prefer to bowl first.
Recent form:
Sri Lanka: Won, Won, NR, Lost, Lost
Afghanistan: Lost, Lost, Won, Won, Won
SL vs AFG, 1st ODI Probable Winners:
Afghanistan are expected to win this match.
What is the Expected, Probable Playing XIs for SL vs AFG, 1st ODI?
Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka / Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage / Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad / Qais Ahmad
The captains of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan proudly unveil the ODI series trophy at the picturesque Pallekele International Cricket Stadium! 🤩 #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/jI5WZApLHP
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 8, 2024
Injury Updates:
Currently, the players from both squads are doing well and fit. It will be added when there is an update.
What are the Fantasy Cricket Top Picks, Players for SL vs AFG, 1st ODI?
Top Pick – Batter
Ibrahim Zadran scored the most number of runs for Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, collecting 376 runs in 9 matches at an average of 47 with the best score of 129*.
Top Pick – All-Rounder
On his return to International cricket from injury, Wanindu Hasaranga registered his career-best figures of 7 for 19 in the 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe last month. He had a good stint for Desert Vipers in the 2nd edition of the ILT20, scoring 133 runs in 8 matches and picking up 12 wickets.
Intensity 🆙!AfghanAtalan have hit the ground last night ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka, kicking off at 1:30 PM (AFT) today in Kandy. #AfghanAtalan | #SLvAFG2024 pic.twitter.com/epW04De3qX
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 9, 2024
Top Pick – Bowler
Fazalhaq Farooqi comes into the series on the back of an impressive show in the ILT20 for MI Emirates, picking up 17 wickets in 8 matches with the best figures of 4 for 25.
Top Pick – Wicketkeeper
Kusal Mendis showed his mettle in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, scoring 129 runs in 3 innings at an average of 64.5 with the best score of 66*.
X-Factor:
Maheesh Theekshana is a must to have in your fantasy teams considering his exceptional bowling skills. He had a good time for Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20, picking up 11 wickets in 8 matches with the best figures of 4 for 15.
The skipper @Hashmat_50 addressed the pre-match press conference this afternoon ahead of Afghanistan’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting tomorrow in Kandy.#AfghanAtalan | #SLvAFG2024 pic.twitter.com/OyuKdkMwee
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 8, 2024
What are the Fantasy Suggested teams for SL vs AFG, 1st ODI?
1. Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran (vc), Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Janith Liyanage, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Maheesh Theekshana
2. Kusal Mendis (vc), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Azmatullah Omarzai (c), Janith Liyanage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana
Ibrahim Zadran has scored 498 runs at an impressive average of 62.25, including 2 💯s and 2 fifties in 8 innings against Sri Lanka. The stage is set for him to extend his fine form in the upcoming three-match ODI series, starting tomorrow in Kandy.#AfghanAtalan | #SLvAFG2024 pic.twitter.com/uFyDDA6Otl
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 8, 2024
Pre-Match Analysis:
Following their horrendous run in the ICC Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent, Sri Lanka has made tough decisions and handed full fledge captaincy role to Kusal Mendis who served well in the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe taking the side to a 2-0 victory. They have now moved on from the series and made yet another huge call by dropping their former skipper Dasun Shanaka giving lack of form as the reason. There is no place for Nuwanidu Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay either while upcoming batter Shevon Daniel and all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne have been included in the squad. Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, and Wanindu Hasaranga have completed their duties in the ILT20 and come back to serve the Nation.
It’s a reunion for most of the Afghanistan players who were representing the T20 Leagues before the start of the series. Afghanistan showed a huge improvement in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup finishing 6th well above England, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. They are going to play their first ODI bilateral series after the showpiece event. There is no place for Najibullah Zadran and Abdul Rahman has been pushed into the Reserves, both players were part of the group that played in the World Cup. Left-arm seamer Farid Malik comes into the side and Naveed Zadran, who got his Test cap in the preceding Only Test also been drafted into the squad. Hashmatullah Shahidi will remain as their skipper with no Rashid Khan who continues to recover from back surgery. They got beaten 2-1 when they visited Sri Lanka last time in June 2023.
