Afghanistan is gearing up to face Sri Lanka in a crucial Asia Cup 2023 match on September 5. This highly anticipated showdown will bring an end to the Group stage of the tournament, determining the fourth team to advance to the Super Four round.
In their recent ODI encounters, Sri Lanka has prevailed in six out of the last nine clashes against Afghanistan, showcasing their competitive rivalry.
Afghanistan suffered a significant setback with an 89-run loss to Bangladesh in their first Asia Cup 2023 match in Lahore. In pursuit of 335 runs, only opener Ibrahim Zadran and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi showed resilience with the bat amidst a flurry of wickets, ultimately resulting in a total of 245 runs for Afghanistan.
This substantial defeat dealt a severe blow to Afghanistan's prospects of advancing to the Super Four stage. Their chances of recovery hinge on the requirement of securing a substantial victory over Sri Lanka, which could potentially eliminate the co-hosts from the competition.
Sri Lanka, riding an impressive 11-match winning streak in ODIs, will aim to extend it to 12 and secure a spot in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup 2023 when they face Afghanistan in their upcoming clash. Led by Dasun Shanaka, the co-hosts displayed composure and defeated Bangladesh with 11 overs to spare, securing a five-wicket victory in their opening Group B match in Kandy.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Sri Lanka Probable Playing XI:
Sri Lanka Probable Playing XI:
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha and Matheesha Pathirana.
Tags:
Asia Cup
