🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: AFG vs SL, 11th Match, Group B at Abu Dhabi🏏 - Page 5

Asalanka says he would have opted for something similar had he won the toss. They have two in-form openers, which is an advantage for them, he adds. They want to improve themselves, especially their middle-order batting. One change for Sri Lanka - Wellalage comes in for Theekshana.

Pitch Report: The pitch has a bit of a green tinge to it, says Mike Haysman. Lot more grass than the adjacent strip, notes Ravi Shastri. He thinks it could be two-paced early and there could be some help for the pacers. A solid start, even if it is not brisk, could be the order of the day for Afghanistan, he adds. The breeze will help the seamers get some movement, although he does mention the ball might not turn much. Get off to a good start, be busy against spin and then the big hits will come, says Shastri.

Teams:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Finally. Wellalage is back

Akindu: "I hope im wrong here, but i feel like Wella for Theekshana was a mistake. Maybe that makes the batting card stronger, but Theekshanas ability to stem runs in the powerplay and take wickets as well is beyond wella. (He'd have had 1 last match as well of not for not taking a review.) Srilankas bowling is gonna struggle today, should the others not show up." -- Well, Wellalage can also bowl in the powerplay and SL have a host of right-handers that he will not mind matching up against.

No real surprise at the toss. Afghanistan sticking to their strength of wanting to set a total. Three out of five games here at this Asia Cup have been won by the side batting first, which may have also played a part in their decision. They have brought in Rasooli to shore up their batting, with Mujeeb, a mystery spinner like Ghazanfar, adding experience to the bowling unit. SL, meanwhile, have also made an expected change, with Wellalage's left-arm spin being preferred to Theekshana's mystery spin.

All i will say about this SL playing Xi is that in raw talent this is a world beating side.

But raw talent doesn't win matches or world cups. Execution does and consistency.

If this roster matures and becomes consistent the future is very bright for SLC.

satheesh: "Does anyone know the margin by which Afghanistan need to win for both teams to qualify for the Super 4?" -- If Afghanistan score 150, Sri Lanka would have to score 84 or fewer to get eliminated. If they score more than that but fail to win the game, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will go through.

Probably the most important match of this Asia Cup

If SL wins, SL and Ban qualifies

If Afg wins by 67-73 runs(depending on the runs scored), Afg and Ban qualifies

If Afg wins but the margin is less than 67-73 runs, SL and Afg qualifies

The last time these two teams faced each other in the Asia Cup and NRR was involved, we had a strange game