Afghanistan Cricket team in Sri Lanka for ODI series

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Afghanistan cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday (23) evening and are expected to play three ODI matches in Hambantota.

The Afghanistan cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday (23) evening and were welcomed by Sri Lanka Cricket at the Katunayake Airport.

The Aghanistan Cricket contingent comprised of 25 players and staff.

Experienced left-hander Hashmatullah Shahidi will once again lead Afghanistan during the tour, with selectors naming a strong 15-player squad and four reserves for the three-match series that commences in Hambantota on June 2.

Young all-rounder Abdul Rahman wins a recall on the back of some strong performances in Afghanistan's domestic One Day Cup competition, while Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Gulbadin Naib are named among the reserves.

Afghanistan have already qualified for this year's World Cup courtesy of their seventh-placed finish in the recently-completed ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League and will be confident of a strong showing against Sri Lanka and in the 50-over showcase scheduled for the end of the year.

The ODI matches will be held on June 2nd, 4th and 7th in Hambantota.

Afghanistan Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhail (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujib ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Abdul Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Farid Ahmad Malik.

Reserves: Gulbadin Naib, Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia ur Rahman Akbar

Series schedule:

First ODI: June 2, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
Second ODI: June 4, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
Third ODI: June 7, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota