KANDY, Sri Lanka, Feb 8, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Sri Lanka won their one-off Test 
match against Afghanistan by 10 wickets, but skipper and captain Kusal Mendis 
said Thursday they face a tougher challenge on the eve of their three-match 
ODI series.

Afghanistan are making a name for themselves in white-ball cricket, and will 
take the field with several of their key stalwarts.

"In ODIs, we know Afghanistan will be tougher opponents", Mendis told 
reporters ahead of the first match at home in Kandy on Friday.

Afghanistan came sixth in the last year's ICC Cricket World Cup, where they 
beat three former champions -- England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"They have a lot of experience nowadays thanks to league cricket," Mendis 
added.

"They compete against good players and play in all sorts of conditions. They 
have come a long way, and there's not much room for error with them."

Both teams will play three One Day Internationals in Kandy, with the next two 
matches on 11 and 14 February, followed by three T20 matches in Dambulla.

Afghanistan's opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, 
former captain Gulbadin Naib, left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi and chinaman 
bowler Noor Ahmad are all back in the team for the ODI leg of the tour.

"Quite a few of their experienced campaigners are returning to the side," 
Mendis said.

"They have couple of batters who are in form too -- but we are confident of 
doing well in our own backyard."

Sri Lanka have dropped former captain Dasun Shanaka due to poor form, but 
have Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne and Dunith Wellalage as all-
rounders.

"They are all capable players," Mendis said, adding that "hopefully one of 
them will do the job for us".

But while they were determined to win, Mendis said, there is no immediate 
goal from the ODI series.

Sri Lanka were knocked out of the 2025 Champions Trophy -- scheduled to be 
hosted by Pakistan -- by finishing ninth in the ODI World Cup.

"We have struggled in ODI cricket quite a bit in the last few years," said 
Mendis, adding that the island nation was "so disappointed" not to qualify 
for the Champions Trophy.

"Our next aim is to build a team for the (ODI) World Cup, which is three 
years away," he said.

"We know the World Cup is in South Africa so we need to build an attack based 
on fast bowlers."