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In the Group B encounter of the ICC ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2023, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will lock horns on Monday, June 19. The match will take place at the prestigious Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka, led by captain Dasun Shanaka, will enter the contest with a formidable squad at their disposal. The 1996 World Cup champions will be aiming to kick off their qualifying campaign with a strong start. Their recent victory in a bilateral ODI series against Afghanistan, where they emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline, has bolstered their confidence.
The likes of Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Pathum Nissanka, will be the players to watch out for as their presence will further enhance the Lankan’s bowling attack.
On the other hand, the UAE experienced mixed fortunes in their warm-up matches leading up to the tournament. Despite defeating Nepal in their first practice game, they faced a loss in their second warm-up fixture against the West Indies. The UAE will be determined to bounce back and make a statement against Sri Lanka.
The UAE’s key players to watch out for include Waseem Muhammad, Rohan Mustafa, Vriitya Aravind, and Zahoor Khan. Their contributions will be vital in guiding the team to a competitive performance against the formidable Sri Lankan side.
Pitch report:
The pitch at Queens Sports Club is traditionally known to favour both batsmen and bowlers, offering a fair balance between the two. It has a reputation for providing good pace and bounce, making it conducive for stroke-making. As the match progresses, the pitch tends to become more conducive to spin bowling, with finger spinners, in particular, can be more effective on this surface.
Head-to-head record:
Played: 02 | SL won: 02 | UAE won: 0 | No result: 0
Probable XIs:
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne/ Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Matheesha Pathirana.
United Arab Emirates: Vriitya Aravind (Wicket-keeper), Waseem Muhammad (Captain), Rameez Shahzad, Basil Hameed, Ali Naseer, Rohan Mustafa, Asif Khan, Aayan Khan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan, Sanchit Sharma, Aryansh Sharma, Karthik Meiyappam, Basil Hameed.
Dream11 Prediction:
Wicket-keeper: Kusal Mendis (vc), Vriitya Aravind
Batters: Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Waseem Muhammad
All-rounders: Rohan Mustafa, Wanindu Hasaranga (c)
Bowlers: Zahoor Khan, Karthik Meiyappan, Lahiru Kumara, Matheesha Pathirana
