Revealed: Why Sri Lanka players are wearing black armbands in 3rd ODI against Afghanistan

Sri Lanka Cricket Team are currently locking horns with Afghanistan in the third ODI of the series on Wednesday (14th February). The dead-rubber match of the series between the teams is taking place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

Afghanistan won the toss and put Sri Lanka into the bat first. As both the teams came out on the field, one thing caught the attention of many. The hosts’ players were seen wearing black armbands and it made many wonder why the players were wearing it in the last game of the series.

The reason behind that now has finally been revealed. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) released the official statement, saying that players will be wearing black armbands to pay their tribute to former administrator of the board Trevor Rajaratnam, who passed away recently.

Releasing the official statement SLC stated: Sri Lanka players will wear black armbands during today’s game vs. Afghanistan to pay tribute to the late Trevor Rajaratnam, the former SLC Administrator.”

Sri Lanka players will wear black armbands during today's game vs. Afghanistan to pay tribute to the late Trevor Rajaratnam, the former SLC Administrator.
#SLvAFG #SLC #lka pic.twitter.com/ernXJ5kps4

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 14, 2024

Sri Lanka had a decent start with the ball in the ongoing game. Rahmaullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran were going great guns and played some crisp shots. However, brilliance in the field by Avishka Fernando applied breaks on the scoring rate.

Ibrahim Zadran played a drive to the right of the cover-point. Avishaka Fernando dived in and stopped the ball. He quickly gathered the ball and threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end. Ibrahim Zadran was well short of the crease and got out. The run out surely changed the momentum and brought Sri Lanka back into the game.

Sri Lanka have already sealed the series after two tremendous performances in the first two games. They thumped Afghanistan by 42 runs in the first match to start the series on high. If this was not enough they then thumped the opposition by a massive margin of 155 runs to win the second hand.

Sri Lanka now would be eager to win the third game as well and complete the 3-0 whitewash. After the ICC World Cup 2023, they had a tough time after their board was sacked by the ICC  as well. However, they are now back on the track and are putting up great performances.

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan playing 11 for the third ODI of the series

Here is Afghanistan Playing XI for the third ODI of the series:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil(w), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik

Here is Sri Lanka Playing XI for the third ODI

Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w/c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka

After the ongoing ODI series, both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be locking horns with each other in the three-match T20I series. Both the teams have named their squad for the series as well.

The series between the two teams will also mark the preparations of both teams for the T20 World Cup 2024.