Team news, likely XIs, form guide, players to watch, odds, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, umpire appointments and everything else you need to know
Namibia take on Sri Lanka in the preliminary round of the T20 World Cup.
The game is scheduled for 6pm local time (3pm BST) on Monday, October 18, 2021.
The game will be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium: Ground guide
Sri Lanka have won just three of their last 20 T20Is in the past two years – a far cry from the side that reached three World T20 finals.
Namibia, meanwhile, have played just six times since qualifying for the tournament, not once in 2020 due the coronavirus pandemic and only three times prior to arriving in Dubai for their pre-World Cup preparations.
Sri Lanka are the favourites to win this match, with Dafabet offering odds of 1/9. Namibia are available at 1/5.
Wanindu Hasaranga has shot to prominence in recent times, earning himself an Indian Premier League deal for the second leg of the recently-finished tournament.
The leg-spinner is a key member of Mickey Arthur’s side and has been joined in the spin-bowling ranks by Maheesh Theekshana. “I don't think it'll be easy for any team to read him,” said his captain, Dasun Shanaka, after his debut in South Africa.
With the bat, Kusal Perera is a constant threat, famed for his cavalier left-handedness at the top of the order.
For Namibia, watch out for JJ Smit. The left-arm seamer has bowled in just 13 T20I innings, but his 19 wickets at 16.31 apiece and an economy of 6.30 are evidence of his ability. Former South Africa allrounder and now-teammate David Wiese described him to The Cricketer as a “proper quality player”. He can also score quickly and averages 33 with a strike rate of 155.79 in T20Is. Wiese, of course, is another one to keep an eye on; the 36-year-old remains a fine cricketer, having just finished a season with Sussex.
Pathum Nissanka seems the only certainty at the top of Sri Lanka’s order, with both Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva all options at the disposal of captain Dasun Shanaka.
Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus will be key to his side’s chances; he was the second-highest run-scorer at the qualifying tournament in 2019.
The following umpires and match referees have been named by the ICC to officiate in the T20 World Cup 2021:
Referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Javagal Srinath
Umpires: Chris Brown, Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nitin Menon, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Rod Tucker, Joel Wilson, Paul Wilson
The following officials have been allocated to this fixture:
On-field umpires: Reiffel, Holdstock
TV umpire: Tucker
Fourth umpire: Erasmus
Referee: Boon
Full T20 World Cup officials appointments: Click here
Temperatures are expected to hover around the low-30s for this match.
Follow the Met Office forecast here.
Yes, though Covid protocols including the wearing of face masks will be in place.
Click here to visit the ICC's ticketing site.
Despite their recent struggles, Sri Lanka will back themselves to overcome Namibia in their opener.
T20 WORLD CUP TEAM GUIDES
Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Talk Talk 404, BT TV 423, Virgin 504) will broadcast the series in the United Kingdom, with the content available online via its streaming platform Sky Go.
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra will have live ball-by-ball radio commentary of all tournament matches, accessible through the BBC Sport website, BBC Sounds or DAB radio.
The Star Sports network is showing the tournament in India. Matches can be streamed via Disney+ Hotstar
Other broadcasters by territory:
Australia - Fox Sports, Channel 9, Kayo Sports
New Zealand – Sky Sport New Zealand
Pakistan - PTV Sports, Ten Sports
Bangladesh - Ghazi Tv (GTV)
Sri Lanka – SLRC (Channel Eye)
South Africa – SuperSport
Caribbean – ESPN
Middle East and North Africa – eLife TV, StarzPlay, Switch TV
USA – ESPN+
Singapore - Star Cricket, Star Hub and Singtel
Malaysia - Fox International Channels
Hong Kong - Star Cricket
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Stephen Baard, Karl Birkenstock. Michau du Preez, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green, Nicol Lofie-Eaton, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Michael van Lingen, David Wiese, Craig Williams, Picky Ya France
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando
Namibia: Stephan Baard, Zane Green (wk), Gerhard Erasmus (c), Craig Williams, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Ruben Trumpelmann, Nicol Lofie-Eaton, Karl Birkenstock, Bernard Scholtz
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dhananjaya
T20 World Cup Hub: News, features, stats, live scores
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