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Both teams have beaten higher-ranked teams in their previous games and will hope to make the most of that momentum

Madushka Balasuriya29-Oct-20232:57

Shahidi: This is Afghanistan’s best-ever World Cup

Big picture – Teams look to capitalise on momentum

While this World Cup has only belatedly started offering up some nail-biters, it’s been rather more generous in terms of unexpected results. As a result, despite the sides currently occupying the top-four spots in the points table being the likeliest to make it through to the knockouts, there’s a cluster of teams just below them ready to capitalise on any potential slip-ups.For Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, three wins from their final four games in the league stage will leave them on ten points, which would give them a genuine shot at a semi-final berth. But of those four games, Afghanistan will face Australia and South Africa, while Sri Lanka still have to take on India and New Zealand.This is what makes Monday’s game in Pune all the more spicy; a win for either side leaves a margin for error in at least one of those “tougher” games, lose and those fledgling semi-final hopes become considerably dimmer.Related

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Both sides also come into this fixture with some form. Well, as much form as sides that have lost three of their five games can be in.While defeats to India and New Zealand might have been accounted for, an opening loss to Bangladesh hurt Afghanistan. But historic wins against England and Pakistan have rejuvenated Afghanistan’s campaign.As for Sri Lanka, three defeats on the bounce to South Africa, Pakistan and Australia had seemingly left their tournament hopes in tatters, but back-to-back wins over Netherlands and, more impressively, England has injected new vigour into a unit that was badly in need of a jolt.There won’t be many secrets between these two sides, with them having squared off in six ODIs over the past year. Sri Lanka have won four of them, though the last – an Asia Cup thriller in September – is one that would have left a sour taste in Afghanistan’s mouths and will serve as added motivation if needed.

Form guide

Afghanistan WLWLL
Sri Lanka WWLLL

In the spotlight – Rashid Khan and Pathum Nissanka

It’s no secret that Rashid Khan‘s effectiveness in ODIs has not quite been at the same level as that in T20Is. So far, across five games, he’s picked up six wickets, not exactly stats to set the world alight, but then again, this has been predominantly a batters’ tournament so far.However his record against Sri Lanka provides more cause for optimism. His 11 wickets across six innings at an average of 18.54 is only bettered by his record against Zimbabwe and Ireland among Full-Member nations; in those six innings, he’s gone wicketless just once. Sri Lanka also have a soft underbelly, one that Afghanistan exploited once already in the warm-ups, and Rashid will be key to testing that brittle middle and lower order once more.Will Rashid Khan make an impact against Sri Lanka?•ICC/Getty Images

Masking those middle-order jitters for Sri Lanka has been a rather more consistent top order, with Pathum Nissanka emerging as an unlikely leader. Indeed, if there was an award for most improved cricketer in the Sri Lankan ranks, you wouldn’t have to look much beyond Nissanka.Having debuted as a Test grafter in 2021, he was fast-tracked into the white-ball setup during a period when SLC was in the midst of a youth-driven overhaul and were taking a more long-term approach to squad building. This meant the selectors stuck with him through his lean start to ODIs – he scored 86 runs across his first nine innings – but he has paid that faith back in spades. It was at the end of that barren run that he was promoted to regular opener, and his 36 innings since have brought 13 fifties and three centuries. His average in ODIs now stands at 39.97, and in this World Cup he’s kicked that up a notch, racking up four consecutive fifties at 60.75. More importantly, he has begun to show signs of developing a more aggressive approach – his strike rate in the tournament is 91.35, up from 83.64 prior to the start.

Team news

Afghanistan have had a six-day break since their last game and are well rested. Fazalhaq Farooqi is likely to come back in for Noor Ahmad.Afghanistan (possible): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiSri Lanka were dealt yet another injury blow, after Player of the Match against England, Lahiru Kumara, was ruled out of the tournament with a thigh injury. He has been replaced in the squad by Dushmantha Chameera, himself returning from injury, and it is likely he will come straight into the side. Kusal Perera’s form meanwhile has been a concern of late, and there have been murmurs of Dimuth Karunaratne replacing him at the top of the order.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera/Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk) 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Angelo Mathews 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Kasun Rajitha, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Dilshan Madushanka1:46

Bond: Hopefully this win kickstarts Sri Lanka’s campaign

Pitch and conditions

The Pune surface in recent times has shown a propensity for high scores, but there’s also been some assistance for the spinners – something both sides could benefit from. That said, dew might come into play in the evening, so the toss will prove crucial as usual.

Stats and trivia

• Nissanka’s 296 runs is the most by a Sri Lanka batter against Afghanistan. It is also the most he’s scored against a single nation.
• Hashmatullah Shahidi is 57 runs away from reaching 2000 ODI runs
• Sadeera Samarawickrama is 90 short of 1000 ODI runs

Quotes

“I think this break is good for us because we had back-to-back games before that and when you play too many games in short time, so the players get like tired. So that was good – after a good win when you are having rest and think about other games also that give you time and also give rest for the bodies and I can say that was good for us.”

He won’t be available for most of the Asia Cup, but will join the team for the World Cup in October-November

Umar Farooq21-Apr-2023Pakistan’s new team director Mickey Arthur will only be available to the team in a limited capacity over the next ten months but he will be involved in designing and overseeing strategies remotely while he also fulfils his responsibilities as head coach of Derbyshire. His appointment was formally announced by the PCB in Rawalpindi on Thursday.Arthur is only one year into his four-year contract with Derbyshire and his reluctance to leave that role meant that it took months for him and the PCB to arrive at an arrangement to work part-time with the Pakistan team. Arthur will be available to Pakistan for only one game in this year’s Asia Cup – against India – and will miss the tour to Sri Lanka and the series against Afghanistan in UAE. He will be available for the ODI World Cup in October-November, the away tour to Australia and home series against West Indies.The PCB had also hired former South African internationals Morne Morkel and Andrew Puttick as bowling and batting coach, while Pakistan’s former fielding coach Grant Bradburn is now the head coach. Assistant coach Abdul Rehman is the only Pakistani in the coaching group, which has been designed to facilitate Arthur working remotely as team director.Related

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“I am pleased that Mickey has formally re-joined the Pakistan men’s cricket team with an enhanced role in which he will be responsible for formulating and implementing strategies for the upcoming assignments across all formats,” the PCB’s head Najam Sethi said. “Furthermore, he will also be responsible for strengthening the national team culture and identifying and grooming future stars, so that we can strengthen our bench strength and strategically secure our future.”Having lived and worked in Pakistan during his previous tenure, Mickey knows the current players, the structure, and the system at the back of his hand. I am sure he will incorporate learnings from the previous tenure so that he can have an even more successful second term.”Arthur’s re-hiring wasn’t straightforward. He wanted to stay on with Derbyshire while the board wanted him full time, and discussions stalled twice before both parties reached a consensus. At one stage, the PCB said it had moved on from Arthur, but negotiations were ongoing.Arthur was Pakistan’s head coach from 2016 to 2019, a tenure that included a Champions Trophy title in 2017 and during which Pakistan became the top ranked T20I team. They were not as successful in Test cricket under Arthur, and a league-stage exit from the 2019 World Cup led to him being replaced as head coach by former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.Arthur’s reappointment was criticised by Misbah, who called it a “slap on Pakistan cricket.”

Chamari Athapaththu will lead the 15-member squad for the three T20Is and three ODIs

Madushka Balasuriya11-May-2022Sri Lanka have made just two changes to the squad that emerged victors in the Commonwealth Games Qualifiers in January for their upcoming tour of Pakistan, which is set to kickstart the third edition of the ICC Women’s Championship.Tharika Sewwandi, the 21-year-old left-arm seamer, and Vishmi Gunaratne, the 16-year-old allrounder, were omitted from the squad. Imesha Dulani, the 20-year-old batter in search of her first senior cap, came into the team.

Sri Lanka Women Squad

Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Prasadani Weerakkody, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Ama Kanchana, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Sugandika Kumari, Sachini Nisansala, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Anushka Sanjeewani

The 15-member strong squad otherwise remained unchanged from the side that won the Commonwealth Games Qualifiers. Chamari Athapaththu, who has been in excellent form for Falcons in the ongoing Fairbreak Invitational T20 tournament, will lead the team. Veteran left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani – the only other Sri Lankan to take part in the women’s T20 tournament, also found a place in the side.This means Athapaththu and Prabodhani are the only two members of the squad to have played any sort of competitive cricket since the Commonwealth Games Qualifiers. The rest of the squad has had to make do with the Women’s Inter-Club Division domestic 50-over tournament, which concluded in April.Related

• SL Women to tour Pakistan for three ODIs and T20Is

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It is, however, a side brimming with experience, with only five players – batters Dulani, Harshitha Madavi, Hasini Perera, allrounder Kavisha Dilhari and left-arm spinner Sachini Nisansala – less than the age of 30.Athapaththu, 32, having played 84 ODIs and 89 T20Is, has the most cricket under her belt and will lead a batting line-up including fellow seniors Prasadani Weerakkody and Anushka Sanjeewani – who will likely take up the gloves – and the youthful trio of Dulani, Madavi and Perera.The batting unit will further be aided by the likes of Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Ama Kanchana and Achini Kulasuriya, all of whom are capable with the ball as well.The fast-bowling department will be spearheaded by Prabodhani and Oshadi Ranasinghe. Experienced left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, meanwhile, was one of three left-arm spinners in the squad, the others being Sugandika Kumari and the 20-year-old Nisansala.The tour to Pakistan will be Sri Lanka’s first major series, aside from the qualifiers, since the 2020 T20 World Cup. The Sri Lankan team will arrive in Karachi on May 19 for the three T20Is on May 24, 26 and 28 followed by the ODIs on June 1, 3 and 4.

The centurions both lifted the Player-of-the-Match award after they kept each other company in the middle for over two hours

Annesha Ghosh12-Mar-2022Rarely does the best performer in a game insist on a second Player-of-the-Match award for their team-mate. Rarer are the times they direct a demand of this sort at cricket’s governing body, at a world tournament at that.But Smriti Mandhana said she was aware her 123 would have mattered little against an undefeated West Indian side had fellow centurion Harmanpreet Kaur not done her bit to put India’s 2022 ODI World Cup campaign back on track after a chastening defeat two days ago. So Mandhana had Harmanpreet, who made 109 on the day, by her side at the presentation ceremony where she explained why she felt they both were equally deserving of the honour.Related

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“I think scoring a century and not being a Player of the Match is something which I wouldn’t really want as a player,” Mandhana said after India’s 155-run win at Seddon Park. “I think we both contributed equally for us (India) to score 300. So it’s good for us to share the trophy.” Asked who might eventually keep the award, Mandhana said, “I’m sure ICC will be giving another trophy and I’m sure they have enough budget to do that.”That Mandhana and Harmanpreet both lifted the award at the end of the ceremony and grinned ear-to-ear at the cameras seemed fitting on a day they kept each other company in the middle for over two hours, exchanging notes, smiles, and hugs – in that order – while reaching new milestones, individually and as a pair. After all, their 184-run fourth-wicket stand, the second century stand between them and India’s highest at any ODI World Cup, had propelled the team to a mammoth 317 for 8. That was India’s best-ever score at a 50-over world tournament and the highest so far in this edition of the event.Mandhana’s century was her second at an ODI World Cup and the second against West Indies, too. Harmanpreet’s, meanwhile, made her the first Indian woman to score three hundreds in ODI World Cups. Both knocks proved pivotal in lifting India to the safety of a 300-plus total a week after 310 was nearly chased down at the same venue. Against a West Indies side that had downed hosts New Zealand and defending champions England in their first two outings, it was all the more critical for India to post an imposing total after opting to set one.”As batters, we both prefer chasing and setting the target both together,” Mandhana said of the dynamic of her partnership with Harmanpreet. “Our strengths are really different because she is really good with spin and I like pace on the ball. So when the spinner comes on I give her the strike and when the pacer comes on she gives me the strike.Smriti Mandhana scored her second century against West Indies in World Cups•AFP via Getty Images

“It’s always fun to bat with Harry . We have battled a lot in T20s in last six to seven years I’ve been part [of the Indian team], I’ve had a lot of partnerships with her and we always complement each other really well. We share a really good bond on and off the field.”When she did walk in, the situation was quite tricky, so I didn’t want to get her [to] lose her focus. So I didn’t really joke around at that time. But once she was in 30s and 40s, we both were actually having a lot of fun after that; we started talking a lot more. And I don’t think today I needed to tell her because she was smiling a lot more than she generally does.”Despite India’s attacking start – thanks to opener Yastika Bhatia’s 21-ball 31 – India found themselves precariously placed near the 15th-over mark when No. 5 Harmanpreet joined Mandhana in the middle. Together, they powered India from 78 for 3 to 262 for 3 at a rate of over a run a ball. A standout feature in their stand were their ease at stealing ones and twos, a major part of both their innings built on along-the-ground strokes.”When she came into bat, we were focusing more on singles and doubles because we had lost three quick wickets and we didn’t want to play another [fancy] shot or get out or something and we didn’t want to even stop the run rate,” Mandhana explained. “So our discussion was that we’ll just keep batting and we will get singles and doubles and convert the singles into doubles. That’s something we all spoke in the dressing room after the New Zealand match, where we couldn’t start the momentum and carry it also.”Deputy to Harmanpreet in the T20I side, Mandhana was effusive in her praise for her senior and ODI vice-captain’s work ethic and resilience.”From the outset, I feel when her back is towards the wall, that’s when she comes the best out and that’s something which I’ve seen,” said Mandhana. “Her work ethics are really up there in the whole team. She keeps going even if she does not get the results. That’s something that really gets her going. World Cups are the place where she comes good and comes big.”From the practice game she’s been batting well, so we are really confident that she will be able to score runs in this tournament. I’m happy that she just got back to back score fifties And most importantly I think today’s century will give her a lot of confidence and [to] the whole team as well because we were not in a great place to start with and from there for her to bat and get us out of that situation, I think it was an incredible innings.”During the innings break, Mandhana described her 119-ball knock as “uncharacteristic,” for she scored at a strike rate of under 90 for the best part of her innings. Later, she admitted she “had a little nervous nineties today,” dropped on 94 at deep midwicket by Aaliyah Alleyne and then surviving a bouncer and an appeal for lbw soon after.”I was a little nervous about that ball going up in there and I prayed to two-three gods saying that please let the player drop it and she put it down, so I should thank her actually because otherwise I would have got out on 96,” Mandhana said. “It’s been a long way for me to come [and score the hundred] …”I’ve been getting out on 70s and 80s quite a lot, so something which was consciously I was thinking that if I feel like playing a shot I have I don’t have to stop myself. I’ll just go with the flow and I’ll just play according to the ball. That’s how I started my inning, so that’s something which I was really working on. Hopefully, I will be this kind always on me and I will convert the 60s and 70s into a big score because if I do that India is [usually] in a great position.”Mandhana will likely have to make do with just the one Player-of-the-Match trophy for herself and Harmanpreet from this game. It was fitting, nonetheless, that the third in line for India’s ODI captaincy honours, doffed her hat to Harmanpreet, the captain Mandhana made her limited-overs debuts under, when she could have the spotlight entirely on herself.

Marnus Labuschagne made a century following the suspension of play on the first day due to the pitch

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2021The pitch behaved itself on the second day at Karen Rolton Oval, although was far from easy, and Marnus Labuschagne made his second hundred of the season, but the contest for the No. 5 spot in the Ashes side fell flat with failures for both Usman Khawaja and Travis Head.After play was suspended 50 overs into the opening due to concerns over damp patches on a length the game resumed on time. Although Queensland fell away from 1 for 179 they were in control at stumps having reduced the home side to 8 for 93 on a surface that remained challenging.Head was caught at leg slip off the left-arm spin of Matt Kuhnemann to continue a relatively lean run of scores since the opening weeks of the season.Earlier, Khawaja, who is competing with Head for a return to the Test side, was caught behind off an inside edge against Dan Worrall. Both batters will hope to make a mark in the second innings of this contest before the Australia-Australia A fixture at the start of December, although speaking when the squad was announced national selector George Bailey said the selectors had their preferred candidate.It was the blows Labuschagne took on the opening day that prompted the suspension of play but there were no such alarms as he moved towards three figures.He and Bryce Street, who is part of the Australia A squad, added 124 for the second wicket but from there South Australia fought back. At one stage Queensland lost four wickets for five runs which included Labuschagne dragging on a sweep against Head’s part-time offspin. It took Kuhnemann at No. 11 to lift them over 300.The early stages of South Australia’s reply were promising but once Henry Hunt fell to James Bazley they went into a nosedive. After Head’s departure their situation was compounded when Alex Carey slog-swept to deep square leg before Jake Weatherald was bounced out by Mark Stekette.Kuhnemann, who has been excellent this season filling in for Mitchell Swepson, had time to claim two more wickets before the close to leave South Australia starring at a follow-on.

New batting coach on a short-term contract says his major role will be to support head coach Domingo

Mohammad Isam27-Jun-2021Ashwell Prince only has one month to make an impact as Bangladesh’s new batting coach and he aims to do that by keeping things simple.Bangladesh enlisted Prince’s services, and Rangana Herath’s, as well and their first assignment will be a tour of Zimbabwe next month, comprising one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. Prince will join the team in Harare and hopes to work closely with head coach Russell Domingo to help the players perform at peak condition.”Obviously it’s only a short term contract of one month and there’s very little time,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Ideally in these situations you’re not looking to change anything at all in a batsman. I see my role as providing as much support to head coach Russell (Domingo) in terms of servicing the players with whatever their needs may be to be best prepared for every match.”From a batting point of view where one can make an impact is to have discussions around strategy, game plans and more specifically batting game plans. Individual players might already have these as sound as you like, but in my experience as a player, sometimes you just want that nod of approval from the coaching staff to say, ‘Yep, we’re all on the same page’.”This is Bangladesh’s first tour of Zimbabwe in eight years, and Prince sees it as an opportunity for the batters to enhance their reputation by doing well in overseas conditions. “International batsman all possess tremendous amount of skill, regardless of which country the player is from. As individuals there are very rarely glaring weaknesses.”Having said that, to establish yourself as a reliable international batter, every away series provides one with the opportunity to build your profile as a player by producing results in different countries under different conditions which are foreign to those at home which you are expected to know best,” he said.Prince, however, added that conditions in Harare, especially the pitches, may be similar to those in the subcontinent given the time of year.”Weather conditions in Zimbabwe in July, would be very similar to Johannesburg in July. Very little if any rain at all. Temperatures also are considerably lower than summer. I’m expecting the surfaces to be drier and slower than the usual summer. It could well play very similar to subcontinent conditions,” he said.Prince, who has worked with South Africa A in the past, is also the Western Province head coach. But he couldn’t help but say yes when Bangladesh came knocking.”The main reason for taking up the position is because the opportunity to work at international level does not come by every day,” he said. “And the opportunity could not present itself at a better time for me, as we are currently out of season in South Africa. I am still employed as Head Coach of one of the Provincial teams in South Africa, Western Province.”