Asia Cup 2022 champions Sri Lanka will play host to Afghanistan for three ODIs in June before their all-important 2023 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. The matches will be played on June 2, 4 and 7 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, a venue which has not hosted any form of men's cricket since February 2020.
Some of the key players from this series from both teams, like Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan from Afghanistan, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana and Dasun Shanaka from Sri Lanka, are currently a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after which they will head to Sri Lanka for the bilateral series.
This will be their second home series in consecutive years, with the Afghans handing the hosts a shock defeat by 60 runs at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in the first ODI. Meanwhile, right-handed batter Ibrahim Zadran scored 106 runs off 120 balls and won the 'Player of the Match' award.
The second ODI of the series was called off due to rain after Sri Lanka were at 10 for no loss while chasing 229 for the win. Sri Lanka won the third and final game of the series by four wickets to avoid a series defeat.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan are already through to the ODI World Cup, to be hosted in India. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will have to go through the Qualifiers, which will also feature teams like the Netherlands, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, Scotland, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United States of America (USA) and one team between South Africa and Ireland.
More recently, Sri Lanka travelled to New Zealand for three ODIs and as many T20Is but ended up on the losing side, as well as a whitewash, losing the series 3-0.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
'One hundred percent, I've got that desire to be out there': Trent Boult desperate to be a part of New Zealand's ODI World Cup squad after 4-1 loss to Pakistan
Former Indian cricketer thanks Gautam Gambhir for arranging medical help for ailing mother-in-law
