Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 clash at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Monday.
Both sides have surged back into semi-final contention with giant-killing victories, as Afghanistan stunned Pakistan and Sri Lanka made it two on the trot with a win over titleholders England. Sri Lanka have a strong recent record against Afghanistan having won their past three clashes in the format including a thriller in the Asia Cup by only two runs.
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Noor Ahmad made way for Fazalhaq Farooqi in the Afghanistan playing XI.
Injury replacement Dushmantha Chameera came straight into the side after fellow paceman Lahiru Kumara was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup by a thigh-muscle injury sustained during training.
Kumara took 3-35 in Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket hammering of World Cup holders England — also beaten by Afghanistan — in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Dimuth Karunaratne replaced Kusal Perera at the top of the order.
“We want to bowl first. The reason is it will be dew after on. We are feeling comfortable, we are playing good cricket. Right now, we are focusing on how we are going to play good cricket. According to the conditions, we gave rest to Noor today and Fazalhaq comes in his place,” Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said after winning the toss.
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“I was looking to bat first, put up a good score on the board and defend. In the last three matches, we have done well in all three parts, batting, bowling and fielding and we would like to do well again. Chameera is playing and hopefully, he will do well. Perera is not playing and Karunaratne comes in his place. He played well in the qualifier matches and I have confidence in him,” Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis said at the toss.
AFG VS SL 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.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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