Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Prediction: A closely contested matchup ahead

In the upcoming World One Day International cricket competition, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are set to face each other at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. In their recent test matchup, Sri Lanka emerged victorious, and in this upcoming ODI clash, Afghanistan is expected to enter as the underdogs. Let's delve into the details of this match and make a prediction.

Dhananjaya de Silva marked his debut as Sri Lanka's captain with a commanding ten-wicket win in the one-off Test, becoming the eighth Sri Lankan captain to achieve this feat. As the focus shifts to three ODIs against Afghanistan, all to be held at the Pallekele International Stadium, starting with the first on Friday, attention turns to improvements in the shorter format.

After a challenging ODI World Cup where Sri Lanka narrowly avoided finishing at the bottom of the table, the team has undergone significant changes. Kusal Mendis has assumed the permanent ODI captaincy role and led the team to a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe (with one no-result) in January, bringing a sense of optimism to fans craving stability in this format.

Continuing this positive streak won't be a straightforward task, especially considering Sri Lanka's last encounter with Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup, where the Lankan Lions were defeated. Mendis, who captained in that game as well, witnessed his spin attack struggle without success. However, he will look to Mahesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga to make an impact in familiar conditions. The duo showcased their prowess in the series against Zimbabwe, accounting for 12 wickets with economy rates just over three runs per over.

Afghanistan presents a different challenge compared to Zimbabwe in the ODIs, notwithstanding their recent loss in the Test match. Coach Jonathan Trott finds a silver lining in that defeat, particularly emphasizing the improvement in their second innings batting as a significant aspect. This series serves as their first assignment since the ODI World Cup, where they performed commendably, contending for a semi-final spot until late in the tournament, ultimately finishing in a creditable sixth place.

The main hurdle for Afghanistan will be filling the void left by the absence of their star spinner Rashid Khan, who is currently unavailable due to rehabilitation following a back surgery. Qais Ahmad, with just one ODI under his belt, is likely to step into Rashid Khan's shoes. Despite having played only six List A games so far, the promising seamer Naveed Zadran, who excelled in the Test match, has been selected in the squad.

Afghanistan has been a challenging opponent for Sri Lanka in recent meetings, and we can expect a similar encounter in this match. However, my confidence in the visiting Afghanistan team is not absolute, considering their recent form, and Sri Lanka holds the favoritism in this matchup. Anticipating a tough contest for both sides, I predict this match to feature multiple innings and the total runs to go 'over'.