The World Cup match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka is underway, and the toss has favored Afghanistan, who opt to bowl first. Sri Lanka’s skipper, Kusal Mendis, expresses that even though he would have preferred to bat first, given the favorable pitch conditions, the decision to bowl is acceptable. The intention is to set a substantial target and create pressure on their opponents. He confirms the inclusion of Dushmantha Chameera in the playing XI, with Dimuth Karunaratne replacing Kusal Perera at the top of the order.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan’s captain, explains the reasoning behind their choice to bowl first. He points out the likelihood of dew forming later in the match, making chasing the target a more viable option. Shahidi emphasizes that their focus is solely on the present game without getting ahead of themselves. He also mentions that Noor Ahmad has been rested, and Fazalhaq Farooqi makes a return to the side.
Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka:
- Pathum Nissanka
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Kusal Mendis (C/WK)
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Angelo Mathews
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Kasun Rajitha
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Dilshan Madushanka
Afghanistan:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
- Rahmat Shah
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Ikram Alikhil (WK)
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
Head-to-Head Record in ODIs (Last five matches):
- November 30, 2022: Sri Lanka won by four wickets in Pallekele
- June 2, 2023: Afghanistan won by six wickets in Hambantota
- June 4, 2023: Sri Lanka won by 132 runs in Hambantota
- June 7, 2023: Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets in Hambantota
- September 5, 2023: Sri Lanka won by 2 runs in Lahore
Probable XIs:
Sri Lanka:
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Perera
- Kusal Mendis
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Angelo Mathews
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Kasun Rajitha
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Dilshan Madushanka
Afghanistan:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Ikram Alikhil
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Noor Ahmad
Live Score:
- Match 30 (ODI), Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, 30 October, 2023
- Sri Lanka: 144/4 (30.0)
- Afghanistan: Ongoing
The match is in full swing, and Mujeeb’s impressive performance has given Afghanistan the upper hand. However, with the game still in progress, there’s ample room for thrilling moments and exciting developments. Stay tuned for live updates and be part of the action in this exciting World Cup encounter between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.