Afghanistan have chosen to set a total first up in Abu Dhabi, a decision captain Rashid Khan hopes will settle nerves in what is plainly a must-win outing against Sri Lanka. “I was keen to get runs on the board,” he said at the toss, adding that the surface looked friendly enough for stroke-play.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka admitted he would have batted too, but tried to keep focus on his side’s middle-order. “We’ve spoken about finishing games better,” he noted, quick to point out that chasing can expose any lingering issues.
Both camps shuffled their XIs. Afghanistan brought in off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and attacking batter Darwish Rasooli for 18-year-old wrist-spinner AM Ghazanfar and the experienced Gulbadin Naib. Sri Lanka responded by drafting in the left-arm all-rounder Dunith Wellalage for Maheesh Theekshana, a move that feels directly linked to Afghanistan’s difficulties against left-arm spin versus Bangladesh earlier in the week.
The pitch, a fresh strip but not pristine, might offer the quicks a hint of nip before settling into something slower. Pitch-side, Ravi Shastri delivered one of his trademark nuggets: “Make sure you’re busy against spin,” advice that applies equally to both line-ups.
Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara.
So, Afghanistan bat, Sri Lanka chase. One side desperate for points, the other angling for momentum heading into the back-end of the tournament. A straightforward enough storyline, yet plenty of small threads—left-arm spin, fluctuating middle orders, and early-overs movement—could tug this contest either way.
