AFG v SL: T20 WC PREVIEW

Few unpredictable results and rain washouts in Group A have opened up all possibilities. Heavyweights such as England and Australia are on the verge of elimination and must win their remaining games in order to remain in contention for semis. In addition to that, NRR is going to play a massive and desicisve role. Australia survive for another day after beating Ireland by 37 runs but they would have liked to finsih the game early but a Tucker masterclass denied them a big victory at the end.

Mathematically, SL and Afg are still alive in the tournament but they need some miracle and every possible result to go in their favour which is highly unlikely. SL have no one except themselves to blame. They had both Aus and NZ by strings but a Stoinis and Phillips blitzkreig have almost knocked them out of tournament. Some outrageous fielding allowed NZ to post 160 + when they were struggling at 15-3.

Afghanistan started their WC campaign with a loss against England. Even though they scored only 112 runs in the first innings, they made sure it wasn't going to be a cake walk for Eng. There is no doubt that Afghanistan is a formidable T20 team, and they have improved leaps and bounds in recent years. In ODI world cups, T20 world cups, and the Asia cup, Afghanistan has repeatedly threatened India and Pakistan, but they have agonisingly fallen short every time. The recent game against Pakistan at Sharjah is a great example. Similarly, during last year's World Twenty20, they were on top of their game against Pakistan until the 17th over, but an over by Karim Janat ruined their night. They'll consider themselves extremely unlucky to have 2 games washed out due to rain.

Probable XI

Afghanistan

Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

Venue

The Gabba, Brisbane

Total matches 8

Matches won batting first 6

Matches won bowling first 2

Average 1st Inns scores 167
Average 2nd Inns scores 144

Highest total recorded 209/3 by AUS vs RSA
Lowest total recorded 114/10 by RSA vs AUS

Highest score chased 161/4 by AUS vs RSA
Lowest score defended 150/7 by BAN vs ZIM

Head-to-Head

They have faced each other only thrice in t20is and recently twice in Asia cup where both teams won 1 game each. Overall, SL lead by 2-1

Most runs - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (124)

Most wkts - Mujeeb Zadran (4)

Recent Form

(Last five matches)

Afghanistan:

NR NR L L L

Sri Lanka

L L W W W

Match Ups

Mendis v Rashid: 13 off 3 balls

Rajapaksa v Rashid: 12 off 20 balls

Shanaka v Mujeeb: 0 runs with 2 dismissals

Rajapaksa v Nabi: 29 off 21 balls, 1 dismissal

*Fazal Farooqui has dismissed Mendis, Asalanka and Karunaratne once each in t20is with SR of 71, 109 and 0 respectively

Zazai v Hasaranga: 40 off 19 balls ( t10 included)

Gurbaz v Hasaranga: 15 off 12 balls, 1 dismissal

Gurbaz v Theekshana: 32 off 13 balls

Gurbaz v Rajitha: 3 off 5 balls, 1 dismissal

Gurbaz v Chamika: 37 off 17 balls

Form Update
(Last 5 innings)

Key Players & Fantasy Picks

Bhanuka Rajapaksa has proved out to be SL's MVP and played a lions share in helping them win Asia cup. He scored 191 runs at a SR of 145 and chipped in with crucial cameos in almost every game. A must pick in your Fantasy side.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Apart from being a hard hitting opener he is also a part time keeper. He has more than 2400 runs at a SR of 152, He had an impressive outing on his LPL and BPL debut which led the Gujarat Titans pick him as the replacement for Jason Roy. Along with Gurbaz, another batter to look out for is Najibullah Zadran. Gurbaz is the highest scorer against SL

Wanindu Hasaranga

In the bowling department their success will mainly lie on Hasaranga and Theekshana. Hasaranga created a record by picking most wkts in the middle overs by a spinner in a season while playing for RCB and is one of the best bowlers in t20s currently. His trajectory and bowling height makes it difficult for the batters to read him. Theekshana bowls crucial overs in the Powerplay and in the death. He outfoxed Fin Allen with an amazing carrom ball in last match. Was one of the main reasons for CSK's turn around in the 2nd half. The Hasaranga - theekshana combo are one of the most bankable picks that could help you win big in Fantasy XI

Rashid Khan

He is arguably the greatest t20 bowler of all time. Not just with the ball but even with the bat Rashid has repeatedly pulled off miraculous wins in the end overs. The game against CSK and SRH in this year's Indian t20 league are best examples. Afg could hold his one over at the back end mostly the 17th over which is usually a make or a break over in t20s. A legend of the game has to be your 1st pick in any Fantasy XI

Fantasy XI