PALLEKELLE, Sri Lanka, Oct 19, CMC – West Indies captain Shai Hope calls on his side to play good consistent cricket when the much-awaited first of three ODIs between hosts Sri Lanka and the regional side tees off at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday .

With crucial ICC ranking points and World Cup qualification implications at stake, Hope said his team will have to compete in their ‘A’ match if they want to topple the hosts.

“We are looking ahead and have to make sure we play good cricket and move up the rankings again so that we don’t have to qualify this time. We have to take it one step at a time, as much as we look ahead, we have to stay in the present,” Hope said.

Tenth-placed West Indies are keen to bounce back after losing the T20I series. They will be led by the experienced Hope, with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph as his deputy.

The Caribbean side has a rich mix of youthful exuberance and seasoned campaigners. A key addition is 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Jewel Andrew, who will be keen to make his mark in international cricket.

Besides Hope and Joseph, the likes of Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase bring firepower to the West Indies line-up, while Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh Jr provide plenty of depth in the all-rounder and spin departments. .

“We have some new members and returning guys and we need to put together consistent performances and find ways to win big moments in games and do the best we can,” Hope added.

Once again the regional side in Pallekelle are expected to face a steady diet and Hope is keen to take on the challenge.

“Any time you come to Sri Lanka you have to expect the ball to perform a little bit, especially from a spin bowling point of view. We can’t have too much of a predetermined mentality. We have to wait and see what the field has to offer,” Hope said.

“We have to play what we see and understand that it can look like a dust bowl and play straight. We have to adapt in that regard and make sure we are ready to play whatever they throw at us,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, currently number seven in the ICC men’s ODI rankings, will be led by Charith Asalanka. Their side is a mix of experience and youth, with exciting prospects such as Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who has received his first ODI call-up.

The team will be strengthened by the return of left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who has recovered from a hamstring injury. Moreover, star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga returns to the side after missing two matches against India earlier this year.

The two teams are almost evenly matched head-to-head. West Indies have a slim lead as they have won 31 of their 64 ODIs against Sri Lanka, while the hosts have registered 30 wins.

In their most recent encounter, Sri Lanka dominated with an eight-wicket win at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Super Six in July 2023.