IPL stars expected to join teams in Hambantota
by Rex Clementine
Afghanistan cricket team that arrived in the island earlier this week has resumed practices in Colombo with SSC being their training base. Sri Lanka meanwhile have been training at both SSC and RPS. Both teams will travel to Hambantota next week ahead of the three match ODI series.
The first ODI will be played on the 2nd of June followed by the remaining games on June 4th and 7th. Both teams’ IPL players are expected to join the rest in Hambantota ahead of the curtain-raiser of the series.
Afghanistan had a strong representation in the IPL – as good as Sri Lanka’s – with four of them featuring in the world’s leading franchise tournament – Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Abdul Rahman, a 21-year-old uncapped medium paceman is the only newcomer in the Afghan squad. Bowling is Afghanistan’s strongest aspect in the ODI format.
Despite their struggles in recent years, Sri Lanka start the series as favourites. The hosts are yet to name their squad, but fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and top order batsman Kusal Janith Perera are expected to be named in the side.
Dimuth Karunaratne also returns to the side having been given the cold shoulder in the 50 over format for two years now. Sri Lanka’s problems of not being able to bat out the 50 overs has been a problem and Dimuth is seen as the solution for the problem.
Lead up to the last World Cup in England, Sri Lanka were facing the same problem and Dimuth was drafted into the side to address the issue and he went onto lead the team and did a decent job as the opener.
Former captain Angelo Mathews is also back in the 50 over format. There will be a lot of excitement as fans will be hoping to see Matheesha Pathirana in action. Nicknamed ‘baby Malinga’, the 20-year-old has come up with some match winning performances for CSK. Pathirana has only featured in a T-20 for Sri Lanka – last year in UAE. He is expected to make his ODI debut.
Afghanistan toured Sri Lanka last year as well for a three-match series, a part of the ICC World Cup Super League. The series was played at Pallekele and ended in a 1-1 draw with one game being washed out by rain. Afghanistan qualified for this year’s World Cup directly by winning the first ODI.
