Sri Lanka turn back to seniors for Afghan series

With the World Cup qualifiers just around the corner, Sri Lanka has questions to answer in terms of team combination. And they are hoping it can solve those perennial issues while playing against Afghanistan, before heading to Zimbabwe on June 9 for the qualifiers.

The selectors have made several changes to team combination, hoping to reverse the losing trajectory in a format Sri Lanka did exceptionally well in before the slide began in 2015.

Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne have been brought in to strengthen a batting lineup that has struggled consistently to bat through the full quota of overs. Sri Lanka lost all five completed ODIs this year and only once managed to complete the full quota.

Both have done well in the longer format. Karunaratne, in particular, has been in sublime form and expectations are high that he will carry the same form into white-ball cricket. This, however, will be a big ask from a man who has played little or no white-ball cricket since he was unceremoniously dumped from ODI captaincy and the team two years ago when selectors wanted to groom a new team of young guns.

But those youngsters have been so inconsistent that selectors had to turn again to the aging seniors to rescue a team. The 1996 champions and the 2007 and 2011 runners-up must reach the finals in the qualifying tournament to enter the main draw of the 50-over World Cup to be held in India in October.

With Avishka Fernando and Kusal Perera missing from the 16-man squad, wicket-keeper batter Sadeera Samarawickrema has been brought in as an additional opener to Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka for the Afghanistan series.

Kusal Mendis, the vice captain, will continue to bat at No.3 and will hope his recent Test form will stand in good stead in the 50-over game. In his last five ODIs, Mendis has scored only 38 runs, including three ducks. Mathews, who returned during the New Zealand series has much responsibility on his shoulders, batting in the crucial No.4 position. Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka will fill the rest of the batting with de Silva and Shanaka expected to bowl.

Wanindu Hasaranaga has been added to the squad at the last minute as the 16th man and expected to feature at some stage of the series. He did not play RCB’s last three games in the Indian Premier League due to an injury.

As reported last week, the squad includes uncapped Matheesha Pathiarana and Dushan Hemantha. Chamika Karunaratne too has retained his place. Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and Pathirana will form the pace unit.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan, who have already earned their spot in the World Cup, will look to use the opportunity to prepare for the tournament in October.

Led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan named a strong 15-player squad and four reserves and they arrived 10-days ahead on the island to prepare for the series. During their last visit, the three-match series was squared 1-1 after second game was washed out in Pallekele.

Young all-rounder Abdul Rahman wins a recall on the back of some strong performances in Afghanistan’s domestic One Day Cup competition, while Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Gulbadin Naib are named among the reserves.

Afghanistan currently have three bowlers ranked inside the Top 10 in ODI bowler rankings, with Rashid Khan (sixth), Mujib ur Rahman (eighth) and Mohammad Nabi (10th) forming an imposing attack alongside emerging quick Fazalhaq Farooqi and young spinner Noor Ahmad.