Sri Lanka received their one-off Test match towards Afghanistan by 10 wickets, however skipper and captain Kusal Mendis mentioned Thursday they face a harder problem on the eve of their three-match ODI collection. Afghanistan are making a reputation for themselves in white-ball cricket, and can take the sphere with a number of of their key stalwarts. “In ODIs, we know Afghanistan will be tougher opponents,” Mendis advised reporters forward of the primary match at dwelling in Kandy on Friday. In the 2 earlier collection towards Sri Lanka, Afghanistan drew 1-1 in 2022, and had been crushed 2-1 in 2023.

But Afghanistan got here sixth in final yr’s ICC Cricket World Cup, the place they beat three former champions — England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“They have a lot of experience nowadays thanks to league cricket,” Mendis added.

“They compete against good players and play in all sorts of conditions. They have come a long way, and there’s not much room for error with them.”

Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi mentioned he was assured that his aspect — the world’s ninth-ranked workforce — is able to pulling off a collection win over Sri Lanka, ranked seventh.

“We are confident… We have our experienced guys back in the side,” Shahidi mentioned.

“We are playing good cricket in ODIs, as we showcased in the last World Cup. We have proved that we are one of the best teams in ODI cricket,” he added.

– ‘Build an assault’ –

Both groups will play three One Day Internationals at Pallekele in Kandy, with the following two matches on 11 and 14 February, adopted by three T20 matches in Dambulla.

Afghanistan’s opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, former captain Gulbadin Naib, left-arm fast Fazalhaq Farooqi and chinaman bowler Noor Ahmad are all again within the workforce for the ODI leg of the tour.

“Quite a few of their experienced campaigners are returning to the side,” Mendis mentioned.

“They have a couple of batters who are in form too — but we are confident of doing well in our own backyard.”

Sri Lanka has dropped former captain Dasun Shanaka on account of poor type, however have Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne and Dunith Wellalage as all-rounders.

“They are all capable players,” Mendis mentioned, including that “hopefully one of them will do the job for us”.

But whereas they had been decided to win, Mendis mentioned, there isn’t a speedy objective from the ODI collection.

Sri Lanka had been knocked out of the 2025 Champions Trophy — scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan — by ending ninth within the ODI World Cup.

“We have struggled in ODI cricket quite a bit in the last few years,” mentioned Mendis, including that the island nation was “so disappointed” to not qualify for the Champions Trophy.

“Our next aim is to build a team for the (ODI) World Cup, which is three years away,” he mentioned.

“We know the World Cup is in South Africa, so we need to build an attack based on fast bowlers.”

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