SL vs AFG Live Streaming In India– Only Test, When and Where To Watch Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live In India? 2024

Published - 02 Feb 2024, 08:56 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:26 AM

Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs Afghanistan – Only Test, 2024

Photo Credit: (Twitter / SLC)

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The SL vs AFG Only Test will be played from February 2-6 in Colombo. The series then continues with three ODIs and three T20Is with matches set to be played in Pallekele and Dambulla. The series concludes with the final T20I in Dambulla on February 21.

For now, the focus is on the SL vs AFG-only Test match. This is Afghanistan’s first-ever Test match against Sri Lanka. The island nation is yet to get started in the WTC points table placed last at the moment.

Sri Lanka recently played a white-ball series against Zimbabwe in January. SL won the ODI series 2-1 and the T20I series 2-1 as well. However, the series was much more closely fought than what the scoreline suggests. Zimbabwe pushed Sri Lanka back to the walls in the series in their home conditions.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, played a T20I series against India in which they were whitewashed. Rashid Khan was not a part of the series due to his recent lower back surgery. His absence was a big blow to the Afghan side. He will continue to remain absent from the one-off Test as he was not named in the squad. His recovery is still in progress is the board decided to give him enough time to become fully fit.

Afghanistan have handed maiden call-ups to right-arm quick Naveed Zadran and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq for their maiden and one-off Test against Sri Lanka. Uncapped batter Noor Ali Zadran and left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman were also named in the 16-man squad for the Colombo Test. The inexperienced side in the absence of Rashid is expected to be tested by Sri Lanka in their home conditions.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be led by their new Test skipper Dhananjaya de Silva. The SLC like the PCB changed their administration and the leadership of the entire team after their debatable World Cup performance. The Lankans finished ninth on the points table with just two wins and nine losses.

Kusal Mendis was named the new ODI skipper, Wanindu Hasaranga the new T20I skipper, and De Silva the new T20I skipper. Mendis was tested in his maiden white-ball series as captain as was Hasaranga. It will be interesting to see if Afghanistan manages to Test De Silva’s side.

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Unlike Afghanistan, Sri Lanka have a mix of youth and experience in their Test side. Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Media, De Silva himself, and Dinesh Chandimal make the core of the Lankan batting lineup. Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and left-arm spinner Prabhat Jayasuriya make the bowling core.

The two teams have played 12 ODI matches with Sri Lanka winning seven and Afghanistan 4 games. One match ended in no result. In 4 T20Is, The Lankans have won thrives while the Afghans only once. The two teams have yet to play a Test match.