Pakistan Cricket Board is in talks with Sri Lanka Cricket about the possibility of playing an ODI series in a bid to prepare for the upcoming 2023 World Cup. Pakistan will travel to Sri Lanka for a two match Test series and PCB and SLC are discussing the possibilities of including ODIs during the trip.
According to sources, officials from both boards have begun the initial talks, and discussions are still ongoing. There’s also a possibility of rescheduling the Test series, which is part of the World Test Championship and play an ODI series instead. The World Cup, cricket’s showpiece event, will take place later this year in India.
Sri Lanka are yet to qualify for the World Cup and will travel to Zimbabwe next month to secure one of the remaining two slots. Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 while Pakistan won the event in 1992 and are one of the leading contenders in this year’s competition.
Pakistan are ranked second in ICC Rankings in ODI cricket, just below Australia. Sri Lanka are meanwhile, ninth, behind Afghanistan and Bangladesh. SLC also has scheduled an ODI series later next month against Afghanistan ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
Sri Lanka failed to gain automatic qualification for the World Cup after they lost the recent ODI series against New Zealand. However, the return of several seniors is expected to boost the side.
Opening batsman Kusal Janith Perera returned to international cricket after a layoff of 18 months following shoulder surgery. He featured only in T-20 games in New Zealand, but he is expected to be named for the ODIs against Afghanistan.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, who underwent ankle surgery after breaking down at the beginning of the T-20 World Cup in Australia last year has resumed training and he is expected to be named in the ODI squad against Afghanistan.
Former captain Angelo Mathews has returned to ODI cricket after being given the cold shoulder for two years and his experience will benefit the batting. There’s also some pressure to include Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the ODI outfit after the team has failed to bat out the 50 overs on numerous occasions in recent times.