Sri Lanka readies for challenge in Afghanistan ODI series

The captains of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan proudly unveil the ODI series trophy at the picturesque Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Pic: @OfficialSLC/X)

Sri Lanka won their one-off Test match against Afghanistan by 10 wickets, but skipper and captain Kusal Mendis said Thursday they face a tougher challenge on the eve of their three-match SL vs AFG ODI series.

Afghanistan are making a name for themselves in white-ball cricket, and will take the field with several of their key stalwarts. "In ODIs, we know Afghanistan will be tougher opponents," Mendis told reporters ahead of the first match at home in Kandy on Friday.

In the two previous series against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan drew 1-1 in 2022, and were beaten 2-1 in 2023. But Afghanistan came sixth in last year's ICC Cricket World Cup, where 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 said he was confident that his side -- the world's ninth-ranked team -- is capable of pulling off a series win over Sri Lanka, ranked seventh.

"We are confident... We have our experienced guys back in the side," Shahidi said. "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.

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Both teams will play three SL vs AFG ODI series matches at Pallekele in Kandy, with the next two matches on 11 and 14 February, followed by three T20 matches in Dambulla.

Afghanistan's opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, former captain Gulbadin Naib, left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi and chinaman bowler Noor Ahmad are all back in the team for the ODI leg of the tour.

"Quite a few of their experienced campaigners are returning to the side," Mendis said. "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 due to poor form, but have Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne and Dunith Wellalage as all-rounders. "They are all capable players," Mendis said, adding that "hopefully one of them will do the job for us". But while they were determined to win, Mendis said, there is no immediate goal from the ODI series.

Sri Lanka were knocked out of the 2025 Champions Trophy -- scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan -- by finishing ninth in the ODI World Cup. "We have struggled in ODI cricket quite a bit in the last few years," said Mendis, adding that the island nation was "so disappointed" not to qualify for the Champions Trophy.

"Our next aim is to build a team for the (ODI) World Cup, which is three years away," he said. "We know the World Cup is in South Africa, so we need to build an attack based on fast bowlers."

(With agency inputs)