Asia Cup, 1st Match: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – Cricket Match Prediction, Fantasy 11 Tips & Probable 11

Sri Lanka will face off against Afghanistan in the 1st match of Asia Cup 2022 on August 27th (Saturday) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

SL vs AFG: Match Details

• Date – Saturday, August 27, 2022
• Time – 07:30 PM IST
• Venue – Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

SL vs AFG: Match Preview:

Sri Lanka have not been in a good form off late in the T20 format. The batters have failed to fire, and the onus and hopes would be on Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka along with captain Dasun Shanaka to take on the Afghan bowling and start the tournament with a win.

The Lankan bowling department would miss pacer Dushmantha Chameera, who's missing out due to a calf injury. This means Asitha Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka will comprise the pace department, while the spin department would be led by Maheesh Theekshana, all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and Dhananjaya de Silva.

Afghanistan are coming into the Asia Cup with a narrow loss against Ireland in the 5-match T20I series. Najibullah Zadran has been the top run scorer in T20Is this year with 255 runs in 9 innings. Hazratullah Zazai has 205 runs to his name in 8 matches and the Afghan batting would have to chin up to take on the Lankan bowling. 

In the bowling sector, left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi has been the top-wicket taker for Afghanistan in T20Is this year, picking up 11 wickets in 8 matches. Ace spinner Rashid Khan has also picked up 9 wickets this year in 10 matches. Naveen-ul-Haq and captain Mohammad Nabi would have to ably support the Afghan bowlers to stand a chance to start their Asia Cup tournament with a win. 

Match Prediction: Who Will Win Today's Cricket Match? SL vs AFG

Although Sri Lanka will start as favourites to win this match, Afghanistan played some brilliant cricket in the recently concluded T20I series against Ireland and may give a very tough fight to hosts Sri Lanka in the first Group B match.

SL vs AFG Head-to-Head:

• Total – 01
• Sri Lanka – 01
• Afghanistan – 00
• Tied – 00
• No Result – 00

SL vs AFG Team News:

There are no injury updates from either team as of now.

SL vs AFG Probable Playing XI:

• Sri Lanka - Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay
• Afghanistan - Najibullah Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Karim Janat

Also Read: Asia Cup 2022 Scorecard

SL vs AFG Fantasy XI:

• Wicket-keeper – Rahmanullah Gurbaz
• Batters – Charith Asalanka, Hazartullah Zazai, Pathum Nissanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa
• All-rounders – Dasun Shanaka, Mohammad Nabi, Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers – Naveen-Ul-Haq, Maheesh Theekshana, Rashid Khan