Sri Lanka Wins Toss, Chooses to Bat First Against Afghanistan in Asia Cup Group Stage Clash
In a pivotal match in the Asia Cup group stage, Sri Lanka has won the toss and decided to bat first against Afghanistan at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Both teams recognize the importance of securing a victory to progress to the Group 4 stage. However, Afghanistan faces the formidable challenge of winning with a substantial margin. The two sides have opted for unchanged playing XIs.
Following the toss, Sri Lanka’s captain, Dhasun Shanaka, stated, “It’s always handy to put runs on the board when batting first, as it takes off the pressure of chasing runs. We have a strong bowling lineup and are eager to defend our total.”
In response, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, remarked, “Honestly, we wanted to bowl first because Net Run Rate (NRR) is a significant factor for us, and we preferred to chase. We will strive to make sound decisions and play aggressively.”
Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
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