30 October,2023 03:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pathum Nissanka (Pic: AFP)
ICC World Cup 2023 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan is being played at Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bowl first against the Sri Lankans.
Squad changes:
Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne replaces opener Kusal Perera while Dushmantha Chameera also joins the playing XI.
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Squads:
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (c), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Angelo Mathews, Dilshan Madushanka, D. Chameera.
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w/k), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (w/k), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen ul Haq.
Sri Lanka has a perfect ODI record against Afghanistan, winning both their encounters so far.
Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne opened the inning for Sri Lanka. Karunaratne scored 15 runs in 21 balls before getting hit on the pad by Fazalhaq Farooqi. Skipper Kusal Mendis came in to bat at No. 3.
Both, Nissanka and Mendis are settled and are trying to stabilize The Lankan Lion's inning with their impressive strokes. They still have chances in the ICC World Cup 2023 qualification race if they secure a win with a good net run rate.
Veteran spinner Rashid Khan is playing his 100th ODI match for Afghanistan. Will he display some magical performance in his 100th ODI match?
Stable Pathum Nissanka missed his well deserved half century by just four runs. Samarawickrama joins skipper Mendis in the middle.
Even Afghanistan have a slim chance of reaching the semi finals of the ICC World Cup 2023 with just four points each from their five matches.
Dushmantha Chameera who is named as the replacement player for Lahiru Kumara is playing in today's clash. Will he be able to fulfil the contributions of Lahiru Kumara? Noor Ahmed who bagged three wickets against Pakistan did not secure his place in Afghanistan's playing XI.
