SL vs AFG: Crucial Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan series is all set to begin on June 2 & there comes a major blow for Afghanistan as their star spinner Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the first two ODI matches due to a lower back injury. ACB confirmed the development through an Official Statement which stated, “he will remain under full medical observation, and is expected to return for the final ODI on June 7”.
Rashid Khan has recently featured in IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans & their team managed to qualify for the summit clash. However, they lost the final match to Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 29. Rashid was the standout spinner throughout the tournament as he ended the season as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 27 wickets in his kitty. He was all set to show the same prowess in the crucial Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan series. However, the injury proved as a major setback for Rashid as he could not play the first two ODIs due to a lower back injury. In Rashid’s absence Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad will have to fulfill extra responsibility in the spin department.
SL vs AFG ODI Series will begin on June 2
Noor Ahmad too had a successful stint in IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans as he ended the season by scalping 16 wickets in 13 fixtures at an economy of 7.82. But on the International front, he has just featured in one ODI & one T20I. He has been named to the announced 15-member squad for the ODI series on the back of his standout performance in IPL 2023. Afghanistan’s 15-member ODI squad will be led by Hasmatullah Shahidi.
The Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka will begin with three-match ODI series on June 2. The Second ODI of the series will be played two days after the first ODI while the third ODI will be played on the 7th of June. All the matches will be played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. Just seven days after the ODI series Afghanistan is slated to play a one-off Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram. Afghanistan has already qualified for the World Cup 2023 & will look at these series as a preparatory ground for the marquee event. While Sri Lanka has failed to earn a direct qualification & this series will act as a build-up for them for the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, starting on June 18.