Currently occupying the seventh spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings, Sri Lanka holds a strategic advantage over their counterparts, Zimbabwe, who are placed four positions below. The competition promises to be fierce as both teams vie for supremacy in the limited-overs format.
Leading the charge for Sri Lanka will be wicket-keeper-batter Kusal Mendis, who has been entrusted with the captaincy. The experienced Charith Asalanka will serve as Mendis’s deputy, providing valuable leadership support to the team. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will be under the seasoned leadership of Craig Ervine, an experienced campaigner who will be looking to inspire his team to make an impact in the series.
However, Sri Lanka faces an early setback with the unfortunate absence of star opening batter Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka has been ruled out of the ODI series due to Dengue, creating a void in the team’s lineup. In a strategic move to fill this gap, the Islanders have included Shevon Daniel in the ODI squad, hoping his skills will contribute to the team’s success.
Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka 2024, ODI Series Fixtures, Venues and Timings:
- January 06: First ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo 02:30 pm IST/ 09:00 am GMT/ 02:30 pm Local
- January 08: Second ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo 02:30 pm IST/ 09:00 am GMT/ 02:30 pm Local
- January 11: Third ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo 02:30 pm IST/ 09:00 am GMT/ 02:30 pm Local
Also READ: Sri Lanka unveils squad for home ODIs against Zimbabwe; Akila Dananjaya returns
Squads:
Sri Lanka: Shevon Daniel, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk and c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Avishka Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage, Sahan Arachchige, Dilshan Madushanka
Zimbabwe: Joylord Gumbie (wk), Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Milton Shumba, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Craig Ervine (c), Sikandar Raza, Clive Madande, Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Faraz Akram, Tony Munyonga, Tapiwa Mufudza, Ryan Burl
Broadcast and Live Streaming details:
- Sri Lanka Terrestrial: TV1 (Free-to-Air)
- Sri Lanka: Ten Cricket (Dialog) and SLT (IPTV)
- Sri Lanka YouTube: Sri Lanka Cricket (Digital)
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (TV and Digital)
- UK and Ireland: TNT (TV and Digital)
- India: Sony Sports Network; Sony LIV, FanCode
- Bangladesh: TSports
- Pakistan: Sony LIV
- Rest of sub-continent except India and Pakistan: Ten Cricket + Sony LIV
- MENA: Etisalat (TV and Digital)
Also READ: Sri Lanka Cricket appoints new Test captain succeeding Dimuth Karunaratne
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