Afghanistan is preparing for its second warm-up match after their initial encounter against South Africa was called off without a ball bowled. Afghanistan’s track record in World Cup matches hasn’t been stellar, with just one win out of 15 matches played in this prestigious tournament. Notably, this marks Afghanistan’s third appearance in the ODI World Cup.

Conversely, Sri Lanka had a less than ideal start to the tournament, suffering a defeat in their first warm-up match against Bangladesh. Despite being favored to win against Afghanistan, their bowlers couldn’t deliver their best performance, leading to an unexpected loss.

Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s historical performance in the ODI World Cup hasn’t been remarkable, but this time around, they are showcasing a stronger and more competitive team. Anticipations are high for an improved performance in this tournament, with their spin bowling unit standing out as a key strength.

Afghanistan boasts some of the world’s finest spin bowlers, particularly Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. Rashid Khan’s experience in Indian conditions is extensive, having participated in numerous matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for different franchises. His recent IPL stint with the Gujarat Titans showcased his exceptional abilities.

Whenever the pitch favors spin bowlers, Rashid Khan is expected to shine in nearly every match. Mohammad Nabi is another seasoned bowler in Afghanistan’s squad who is well-versed in Indian playing conditions due to his IPL experience. These two bowlers are likely to play pivotal roles in Afghanistan.

The inclusion of Noor Ahmad adds depth to Afghanistan’s bowling unit. He too featured prominently in the recent IPL season and exhibited commendable performances. While Afghanistan’s batting order may not be as formidable as their bowling unit, they do have some hard-hitting players. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are among the standout batsmen in the squad, offering hope for strong performances in the upcoming matches.

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s journey in the World Cup got off to a disheartening commencement, marked by a seven-wicket loss to Bangladesh in their initial warm-up encounter. Having secured the toss, Sri Lanka made the decision to take the first turn at the crease. Their batting contingent displayed a praiseworthy performance, piling up a total of 263 runs before witnessing the entire lineup’s dismissal within 49.1 overs.

Pathum Nissanka emerged as the standout performer for Sri Lanka, top-scoring with 68 runs off 64 balls, embellished by eight boundaries and a powerful six. Dhananjaya de Silva was another batsman who made a valuable contribution, accumulating 55 runs from 79 balls, including two boundaries and a mighty six. Kusal Perera provided a quick boost with 34 runs from just 24 balls, featuring six boundaries, while Kusal Mendis added 22 runs.

Despite their competitive total, Sri Lanka’s fortunes took a turn for the worse due to a subpar performance by their bowling unit. They struggled to defend the target of 264 runs, with Bangladesh successfully chasing it down in 42 overs. Sri Lanka deployed seven bowlers in the match, but Dushan Hemantha was the most successful, claiming one wicket in his nine overs while conceding 45 runs. Lahiru Kumara also managed to secure a wicket but conceded 30 runs in six overs. Dunith Wellalage accounted for another wicket, while Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dhananjaya de Silva remained wicketless during the game.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Pathum Nissanka

Cricket predictions point towards Sri Lanka as the favored team to secure victory in this match. Several factors contribute to Sri Lanka’s favorable position:

• Historical Dominance: Sri Lanka has won four out of their last five encounters against Afghanistan. This historical advantage boosts their confidence.
• Afghanistan’s Recent Performance: Afghanistan’s recent performances haven’t been particularly impressive, possibly affecting their form and confidence.
• Strong Record: Sri Lanka maintains a decent record when competing against Afghanistan, adding to their chances of success.
• Afghanistan’s Spin Bowlers: Afghanistan boasts some of the best spin bowlers in their squad, which can be a crucial asset.
• Losing Streak: Afghanistan has faced setbacks in their last six consecutive ODI matches, which may impact their morale and readiness.

Sri Lanka presents a well-rounded team with a robust batting order and bowling unit, significantly elevating their prospects of victory in today’s match. Let’s break down the chances of each team as follows:

Sri Lanka: They hold a 60% probability of clinching this match.
Afghanistan: Their chances are marked at 40% for securing a win.

Sri Lanka’s well-balanced composition and recent form have positioned them with a higher likelihood of emerging victorious in this encounter.

The coin toss will hold significant sway over the outcomes of each match in the ODI Cricket World Cup Warm-up 2023. Based on our toss prediction, the team that secures the toss victory is likely to opt for batting first, as the pitch’s behavior is anticipated to remain consistent throughout both innings.

The 8th encounter of the ODI Cricket World Cup Warm-up 2023 is set to unfold at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Our observations from prior matches held at this venue indicate that the pitch here is conducive to batting. It’s a somewhat slower track compared to others, offering advantages to spinners. Our expectation is that the surface will progressively slow down, making it more challenging for batting in this particular match. Achieving a score of 160 will indeed be a formidable task.

The weather outlook for Guwahati appears favorable for the upcoming cricket match. While there is a possibility of rain, we remain optimistic about a complete and uninterrupted contest.

• Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium
• Location: Guwahati, India
• Inaugurated: 2012
• Seating Capacity: 40,000
• Also Known As Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium, Assam Cricket Association Stadium
• Playing Ends: Media End, Pavilion End
• Time Zone: UTC +05:30
• Home Team: Assam
• Floodlights: Available