Inexperienced Sri Lanka up against tough opponents Afghanistan

• Plays Asian Games men’s cricket quarter-final today

Sahan Arachchige captains Sri Lanka

Gulbadin Naib leads an experienced Afghanistan side

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Of the four ICC full-member countries playing in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games Men’s cricket event, Sri Lanka has the toughest opposition to contend with when they confront an experienced Afghanistan unit at Hangzhou, China today.

Yesterday India and Pakistan, the two strongest teams in the men’s cricket event, won through to the semi-finals defeating Nepal and Hong Kong respectively. The fourth quarter-final is between Bangladesh and Malaysia which will take place soon after Sri Lanka’s game against Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan have sent all their experienced players. Those who missed the World Cup selection are here. There are about seven players who are with the current set-up, some of them played in the recently concluded Asia Cup,” said Sri Lanka Coach Avishka Gunawardene looking ahead at today’s game.

“Ours is a pretty young and inexperienced side. There are four guys who have played a few games for Sri Lanka. Apart from Sahan Arachchige (the Captain) and Ashen Bandara most of the guys are coming out on their first tour. It’s a talented side, but pretty inexperienced. But then, it’s an opportunity for them also to showcase their talent. No pressure on them because the other teams have put out their best sides.”

“It’s a knockout, do or die, if you lose you are out. We haven’t had proper preparations in Colombo because of the rain. We had only two outdoor sessions for the last three weeks, we didn’t train indoors. We had a training session today in the morning but the practice facilities are not the best. It’s not the ideal preparation coming in for a knockout tournament straight away. But we have to do with whatever we have.”

Gunawardene said that they watched India’s game against Nepal yesterday. “There’s only one ground and we are playing on the same track which India played today. It’s going to get slower and the dust is coming out. Spinners will come into play big time. Our match is in the morning, we might as well bat first and put some runs on the board.”

“It’s always the first game which is the toughest whoever the opposition is. We have the toughest quarterfinal of the four. If we get the little things right we should come through,” Gunawardene said.

If Sri Lanka wins it will set up a meeting with Pakistan in the semi-finals on Friday 6 October. India will take on the winners of the Bangladesh-Malaysia game in the other semi-final.