Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be locking horns in the three-match ODI series, beginning Friday (9 February) with the first game at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka are on their journey of revival after witnessing a horrible campaign at the ODI World Cup 2023. Both teams recently played their One-Off Test that Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets as they will look to continue their dominance. 

With the disastrous campaign at the ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka also failed to make it to the Champions Trophy 2025. This series will serve as a great opportunity for Sri Lanka to test their strength as they look towards building a solid team in the run up to the ODI World Cup 2027. Afghanistan, in recent times, have emerged as a top contender and a top-quality opposition against which Sri Lanka would aim for a solid start. 

Afghanistan, on the other side, gave a tough fight at the ODI World Cup 2023, beating world-class teams with astoundingly brilliant performances. Lately, they have grown into a sturdy team, with young talent making the team even more solid. Both sides will enter the series with a set of bulky players. 

Afghanistan have the likes of Aviska Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis in the batting department and their bowling will see Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana in the spin department. Their pace attack will consist of Dilshan Madushanka and Dushmantha Chameera. 

Afghanistan, on the other side, will come out with the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Naib and Hashmatullah Shahidi in the batting order. They have a powerful spin attack with the presence of Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Talking about their head to head record in ODIs, both teams have faced each other on 12 occasions with Sri Lanka winning 7 games, while Afghanistan have recorded 4 victories as one of their games ended in no result. 

Sri Lanka Probable XI: Kusal Mendis (c&wk), Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera

Afghanistan Probable XI: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmat Shah, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi,