Afghanistan’s Predicted XI vs Sri Lanka, Cricket World Cup 2023: Afghans To Continue With 3 Spinners?

Giant-killers Afghanistan go up towards Sri Lanka in match no. 30 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Monday, October 30, from 2:00 PM IST on the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. With wins towards the Netherlands and England, Sri Lanka are presently fifth on the World Cup 2023 factors desk with 4 factors and a web run fee of -0.205. The island nation misplaced their first three video games – vs South Africa, Pakistan and Australia – however bounced again to win two in a row.

The Afghanistan staff, in the meantime, had two surprising victories towards England in Delhi and Pakistan in Chennai, respectively, from their 5 matches within the match. Their web run fee, nevertheless, took a giant hit in defeats towards India and New Zealand, which sees them positioned seventh within the factors desk.

In their newest match, Afghanistan spinners, headlined by Noor Ahmad, restricted Pakistan to 282/7 on a very good batting floor at Chennai. Half-centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah together with an unbeaten 48 from captain Hashmatullah Shahidi helped them make gentle work of the run chase to win by eight wickets.

Considering the situations on provide on the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, Afghanistan is perhaps tempted to area the identical taking part in XI towards Sri Lanka in a must-win encounter for the 2 Asian sides.

Openers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran

Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are their staff’s prime run-getters on this match with 224 and 173 runs, respectively, in 5 matches.

Gurbaz smashed half-centuries in each of their wins within the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He averages 44.80 whereas placing at over a run a ball to this point.

Zadran, in the meantime, slammed a match-winning 113-ball 87 towards Pakistan within the facet’s newest win. The opening duo will probably be key on a observe the place run-scoring is at its greatest with the brand new ball.

Middle order: Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Alikhil

Rahmat Shah has piled on 150 runs at a median of 37.50, offering a relaxed and regular affect at no. 3. Skipper Shahidi, too, has been rock-solid with the bat, scoring 168 runs at a median of 42.00. The duo have amassed fifty, every, on this World Cup.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ikram Alikhil, however, has solely batted twice on this match, scoring 58 within the win towards England and staying unbeaten on 19 towards New Zealand.

The center order will probably be very important in laying the platform and maintaining the tempo forward of the ending phases of the innings.

All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan

Seam bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai has been very profitable on the World Cup 2023. The 23-year-old has scalped 4 wickets, a dismissal as soon as each 5 overs, and scored 130 runs at a median of 32.50. He will probably be sharing the brand new ball with Naveen-ul-Haq within the powerplay and entrusted with the duty of ending the innings off with the bat.

Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan are the 2 mainstays for Afghanistan. While Nabi has registered 41 runs and three wickets to this point, Rashid has notched 56 runs and picked up six wickets within the match. The duo will probably be key within the center and loss of life overs in each innings.

Bowlers: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has picked up 4 wickets within the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and is just three wickets away from 100 ODI scalps. He bowled a decisive spell of 3/51 at Delhi, guiding Afghanistan to a victory towards reigning champions England.

Noor Ahmad was the match-winner towards Pakistan, taking three wickets at a median of 16.33. Spinners will rejoice bowling in Pune, courtesy of the pitch and boundary dimensions.

Naveen-ul-Haq, in the meantime, is the ace pacer on this Afghanistan staff. While he went wicketless towards India, the 24-year-old scalped two, every, towards Pakistan and New Zealand and took one wicket, every, versus England and Bangladesh. The Afghan staff will depend on his expertise with the brand new ball to interrupt the Sri Lankan prime order within the first powerplay.

Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)

Ibrahim Zadran

Rahmat Shah

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)

Ikram Alikhil

Azmatullah Omarzai

Mohammad Nabi

Rashid Khan

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Naveen-ul-Haq

Noor Ahmad