Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to field in the first match of a three-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Friday.
Sri Lanka’s lineup features opening batter Pathum Nissanka, who missed the only test due to illness. Afghanistan, with a squad including four seam bowlers, aims to leverage the pitch conditions at Pallekele.
The team enters the series with confidence, following a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in last year’s World Cup tournament in India.
Teams:
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (captain), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka.
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad.
