Asia Cup 2022: SL vs AFG Preview

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka lock horns for the curtain raiser of the Asia Cup 2022 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on August 27, Saturday. Sri Lanka would be keen to start their campaign with a win on board and change their fortunes in the T20Is this year. They have won only two of their previous 11 T20Is and will come into the tournament on the back of a 2-1 loss to Australia in their last T20I series.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have had a fairly successful year in the T20I circuit, winning six of their last nine matches, and would look to carry the momentum into the Asia Cup 2022. These two sides were in the same group in the Asia Cup 2018 as well, and it was Afghanistan, who emerged victorious at the time.

Conditions in Dubai, as always, will be hot and dry, and it is unlikely that there would be any dew at night on the ground. This csould virtually take toss out of the equation and provide an even contest between bat and ball.

Here is the probable playing XI for AFG vs SL:

Afghanistan

Afghanistan boast a good number of spinners with Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad. Having these options could be important on an unpredictable Dubai surface.

Predicted XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (captain), Samiullah Shinwari, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka hinted earlier that there could be a left-arm seamer in the playing XI, which is why Dilshan Madushanka might make his debut. They would have to shuffle their bowling lineup from the previous game due to the absence of their star pacer Dushmantha Chameera.

Predicted XI: Kusal Mendis (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva/Ashen Bandara, 6 Dasun Shanaka (captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka