Sri Lanka will take on Afghanistan in the first Asia Cup 2022 Super Four match at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The two sides met in the tournament opener on August 27, where Afghanistan crushed the Lankans in an eight-wicket win.
While Afghanistan went onto top the Group B with another win over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka squeezed through to the last four with a tense two-wicket win over Bangladesh.
Team Composition
Sri Lanka’s wobbly top-order has come under scrutiny for their lack of match-awareness in both group stage matches. While Kusal Mendis’ half-century laden with fortunes helped in Sri Lanka’s chase, the lack of able support almost spoilt the cause. With able all-rounders in skipper Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunarate in the lower-middle order, Sri Lanka would hope for some heft in the batting department against a strong Afghan attack this time.
Sri Lanka Predicted XI: M Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
Form Guide: W L W L L
Arguably, with the most well-rounded bowling attack of the tournament, Afghanistan could once again put the Lankans in a spot with a three-pronged spin force of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman. Add to that, the skiddy left-armer Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq and you have a match-winning bowling unit. The batting department too has boasted of a hard-hitting top-order comprising Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai.
Afghanistan Predicted XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi (c), Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Form Guide: W W L W W
DREAM11 FANTASY PICKS
Given the wobble Sri Lanka has had with the bat and with the ball in the second-half of the innings, it would be ideal to have a base of the in-form Afghanistan players in your XI for tonight. Not to forget, the degree of decimation Afghanistan produced in the campaign opener.
The spin attack will of Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb will form a strong combination. Hasaranga, despite being under the pump, could spring a surprise on the Sharjah track. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazaratullah Zazai can prove to be decisive too.
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