Sri Lanka and Afghanistan switch to ODIs with a focus on solving old problems

Sri Lanka might have won three of their last five ODIs against Afghanistan, and even hold an overall win-loss record of 7-4, but the two teams head into this three-match series on completely different trajectories.

Afghanistan are building. Their next major ODI tournament is right around the corner - the 2025 Champions Trophy. They have a side brimming with potential and energy, just screaming to be harnessed and let loose. They left last year's ODI World Cup with wins over three former champions in their bag. This is not a side to be trifled with.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are rebuilding (yet again). Having failed to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy, their next major ODI tournament is still three years away - the 2027 World Cup. Theirs is a side with a settled core, but one that needs to contend with a new selection committee looking to stamp its authority. And the less said about Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign the better.

But despite all that, this should be as keenly contested a series as ever. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for when these sides square off.

In their first media briefing after being appointed, the new selection committee pointed out the importance of building bench strength. A look at this Sri Lanka squad tells us what a best XI might look like, but could this be an ideal opportunity to give fringe players a runout against quality opposition, with not much on the line?

With a T20 World Cup just four months away, it's unlikely we'll see much experimentation in that format, which leaves ODIs - with nothing to build towards in the short term - as a straightforward option for new faces to dip their toes in international cricket and fringe players to stay sharp.

With the likes of Sahan Arachchige, Shevon Daniel, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage and Akila Dananjaya in the squad, not finding room for a couple if not all of them in the starting XI might seem like a wasted opportunity.

At the best of times, Avishka Fernando is a belligerent hitter at the top of the order capable of producing aggression and intent in spades.

If the recent Zimbabwe series is anything to go by, the selectors' prefer Kusal Perera in T20Is and Avishka in ODIs. Avishka for his part, didn't do himself any favours, notching scores of 0, 4, 0, in his three innings.

This series provides him with just the chance to bring himself back into the selectors' thoughts should a position in the top of the order in the T20I side opens up.

With Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dananjaya, Qais Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad all likely to get game time, it's safe to say spin will play a key role in the series. With Rashid Khan still absent as he recovers from back surgery, Sri Lanka might feel they hold the edge when it comes to that battle.

Therefore, how well the Afghanistan batters cope with Sri Lanka's spin threats, and how the Afghanistan spinners keep control of proceedings without their star man could well decide the series.

Despite their good showing at the World Cup, Afghanistan failed to go beyond the 300-run mark even once - they batted first four times. In a tournament where sides were pounding scores of 350-plus with regularity, this seems to be a glaring shortcoming.

In fact, over the course of their ODI history, Afghanistan have scored 300 or more just seven times. For a side that not too long ago wasn't even a side, that's understandable, but if they want to start competing with the more established sides more regularly, it's an area where gains certainly need to be made.

Sri Lanka have similarly struggled to score 300 with any regularity, with many of their bigger scores coinciding with Kusal Mendis firing at the top of the order. But when Mendis is quiet, the score tends to be low. Sri Lanka will need to find big runs from more avenues if they are to put up a better showing in major tournaments going forward.