Afghanistan play Pakistan in inaugural ODI series today in Hambantota

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Pakistan captain Babar Azam

Afghanistan get their best chance to record their first ODI win against Pakistan when they host them in a bilateral three-match ODI series for the first time at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota today.

The two sides are preparing each other for the Asia Cup which commences on 30 August soon after the series ends on 26 August at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The two sides have met each other in four ODIs which have all been won by Pakistan.

Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan side arrived well ahead of time to acclimatize themselves at the venue and has the experience of playing at Hambantota. Just two months earlier they played a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka losing 2-1. They have also recently played a 50-over series in Bangladesh winning it by the same margin.

The Afghanistan side assembled for the series against Pakistan is a near identical squad and a settled unit and one that has experience in these conditions.

In the recently concluded Lanka Premier League Afghan players Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmanulla Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran figured in the different franchises.

As for Babar Azam’s Pakistanis they have played just eight ODIs all year and will be looking to shake off the rust in this series. Babar and a few others like Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman, Ifthikar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris and Mohammad Nawaz also played in the Lanka Premier League. The second ODI is also scheduled for Hambantota on 24 August. – (ST)