Probable XI –
Dambulla Giants –
Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Philip Salt, Sandun Weerakkody, Janith Liyanage, Najibullah Zadran, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Sachitha Jayathilake, Josh Little, Imran Tahir, Nuwan Pradeep
Jaffna Kings –
Avishka Fernando, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ashen Bandara, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chaturanga de Silva, Wahab Riaz, Suranga Lakmal, Maheesh Theekshana
Small League Combination 1 –
1. Niroshan Dickwella
2. Shoaib Malik
3. Philip Salt
4. Tom Kohler-Cadmore
5. Avishka Fernando
6. Ramesh Mendis
7. Wanindu Hasaranga(C)
8. Sachitha Jayathilake
9. Imran Tahir(VC)
10. Maheesh Theekshana/Wahab Riaz
11. Nuwan Pradeep
– Wanindu Hasaranga looks safest captain choice considering his 4-5 down batting and full overs with the bowl.
– Imran Tahir might be a good VC considering his current top form with the bowl.
– Dropped both Janith Liyanage and Rahmanullah Gurbaz who might not go big in two consecutive innings.
– Avishka Fernando is due to play a good knock which might come in this big match for Jaffna.
– Sachitha Jayathilake might be a decent credit saver punt considering his four overs with the bowl and handy batting at down the order.
– Can take Wahab Riaz at the place of Maheesh Theekshana especially while bowling first.
Small League Combination 2 –
1. Niroshan Dickwella
2. Shoaib Malik
3. Najibullah Zadran
4. Avishka Fernando
5. Thisara Perera
6. Ramesh Mendis
7. Wanindu Hasaranga(C)
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Maheesh Theekshana
10. Imran Tahir
11. Nuwan Pradeep(VC)
– Najibullah Zadran and Ramesh Mendis will be crucial with bat especially if a couple of top order batters depart early.
– Can take anyone from Avishka Fernando or Tom Kohler-Cadmore as both are available in same credits and considered as hit or miss type of batters.
– Shoaib Malik will be a must pick considering his three down batting and a couple of overs with the bowl.
– Thisara Perera might go big in this important game for Jaffna especially while batting first.
– Dropped Philip Salt as he’s available in higher credits so his failure might make this combination do well.
– Must try Niroshan Dickwella as C/VC in 10-20-339 members league.
Grand League Combination –
1. Niroshan Dickwella(VC)
2. Shoaib Malik(C)
3. Najibullah Zadran
4. Avishka Fernando
5. Thisara Perera
6. Wanindu Hasaranga
7. Ramesh Mendis
8. Suranga Lakmal
9. Imran Tahir
10. Maheesh Theekshana
11. Chamika Karunaratne
– Shoaib Malik might be a good captain choice considering his part time bowling and three down batting.
– Can go with anyone from Niroshan Dickwella or Avishka Fernando as VC since both are due to play a good knock.
– Can take Philip Salt at the place of Ramesh Mendis who might go big in this qualifier game.
– Expecting atleast a couple of wickets from Suranga Lakmal especially while bowling first.
– Joshua Little might be another decent pick especially while bowling in first innings.