Afghanistan opt to bowl

Online Desk

Afghanistan have opted to bowl first against Sri Lanka in a match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India on Monday.

Winning the toss afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said, “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.”

Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis said, “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.”

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil(w), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w/c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.

Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan