Probable XI –
Dambulla Giants –
Niroshan Dickwella, Philip Salt, Shoaib Maqsood, Tharindu Ratnayake, Najibullah Zadran, Dasun Shanaka, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Sachitha Jayathilake, Nuwan Pradeep, Imran Tahir
Jaffna Kings –
Upul Tharanga, Avishka Fernando, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera, Ashen Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chaturanga de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Maheesh Theekshana, Wahab Riaz
Small League Combination 1 –
1. Philip Salt
2. Shoaib Malik
3. Avishka Fernando
4. Tom Kohler-Cadmore
5. Najibullah Zadran
6. Wanindu Hasaranga(C)
7. Ramesh Mendis(VC)
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Maheesh Theekshana
10. Imran Tahir
11. Tharindu Ratnayake
– Wanindu Hasaranga and Ramesh Mendis looks safest C/VC choices considering their hitting ability at down the order and full overs with the bowl.
– Najibullah Zadran might be a decent punt especially if a couple of top order batters depart early.
– Can take Upul Tharanga at the place of Tom Kohler-Cadmore especially while chasing.
– Dropped Thisara Perera as he might not go big in four consecutive innings.
– Tharindu Ratnayake will be a good pick as he might get promoted to bat up the order and bowling full four overs of spin.
– Can take risk on Suranga Lakmal at the place of Wahab Riaz if Jaffna gets to bowl in first innings.
Small League Combination 2 –
1. Niroshan Dickwella
2. Shoaib Malik
3. Upul Tharanga
4. Avishka Fernando
5. Dasun Shanaka
6. Wanindu Hasaranga(C)
7. Ramesh Mendis
8. Suranga Lakmal
9. Imran Tahir
10. Maheesh Theekshana
11. Tharindu Ratnayake(VC)
– Going a bit heavy on Jaffna Kings as they’re the favourites to win this encounter.
– Can go with anyone from Tharindu Ratnayake or Maheesh Theekshana as VC since they can get a couple of wickets at this spin favoured surface.
– Niroshan Dickwella might be a good punt at the place of Philip Salt who might struggle to score against quality spin bowling of Jaffna.
– Dasun Shanaka can be a decent punt especially if a couple of top order batters depart early.
– Expecting atleast a decent knock from Upul Tharanga who’s due to play one in this tournament.
– Chaturanga de Silva can be another decent pick at the place of Suranga Lakmal.
Grand League Combination –
1. Niroshan Dickwella
2. Shoaib Malik
3. Upul Tharanga
4. Shoaib Maqsood/Najibullah Zadran
5. Ramesh Mendis
6. Dasun Shanaka
7. Wanindu Hasaranga
8. Chaturanga de Silva(VC)
9. Imran Tahir
10. Tharindu Ratnayake(C)
11. Maheesh Theekshana
– Tharindu Ratnayake looks an open captain choice considering his four overs with the bowl and two down batting.
– Chaturanga de Silva can be a decent VC choice as he’s expected to bat at down the order and bowling 2-3 overs too.
– Can take anyone from Shoaib Maqsood or Najibullah Zadran as both have shown hit or miss form in this tournament.
– Dasun Shanaka can be another good C/VC choice in a couple of grand league combinations.
– Must rotate Suranga Lakmal and Chamika Karunaratne as players in different combinations of GL.