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ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is nearing to the final stage of the tournament where India will be facing Australia on 19th November at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. With 10 teams playing each other in round robin format there have been certain teams who have performed below the expectations like Pakistan, England, Bangladesh etc. but worst team out of all stands to be Sri Lanka.
Here, in this article we will see reasons for nominating Sri Lanka to be the worst team to play in this 2023 World Cup.
1. Not able to qualify for Champions Trophy 2025
Sri Lanka were the only Test playing nation, who failed to qualify for Champions Trophy 2025 as they managed to finish only at ninth position in 2023 World Cup points table. Sri Lanka ended up winning only two games and lost seven games with most of them being a heavy margin defeats against sides like India, New Zealand etc.
2. Recorded lowest-ever total by a Test playing nation in World Cup history
Sri Lanka went onto record an embarrassing total of 55 runs against India in this World Cup, which remains to be the lowest total ever in World Cup history among Test playing nations. Sri Lanka lost that game by a huge margin of 302-runs which remains to be highest loss margin in World Cup history for a Test playing nation.
3. Weren't able to defend a big total of 344 runs against Pakistan
Sri Lanka despite posting a huge total of 344/9 in 50 overs, weren't able to defend this total due to their poor bowling attack and as a result of it, Pakistan went onto record the highest-ever chase (345) in World Cup history.
Sri Lanka's plain bowling attack of conceding too many runs has ensured they lose games badly like this and notably, South Africa posted the highest-ever total of 428 runs in World Cup history against this Lankan bowling attack.
4. Sri Lanka bowlers took least wickets among all teams in 2023 World Cup
Sri Lankan bowlers took only 50 wickets in 2023 World Cup, which is least among all teams who have played in this tournament so far.
Least aggregate wickets for a team in 2023 World Cup:
Sri Lanka - 50
Bangladesh - 51
Afghanistan - 53
5. Batters recorded an aggregate of less than 2000 runs in this World Cup
Sri Lanka batters in nine games, tried 18 different players who have managed to aggregate a total of only 1942 runs in this entire 2023 World Cup so far.
Least aggregate runs scored for a team in 2023 World Cup:
Netherlands - 1728
Sri Lanka - 1942
Bangladesh - 1944
Only, Netherlands have scored lesser runs than Sri Lanka in this 2023 Cricket World Cup.
