Monster executioners Afghanistan go facing Sri Lanka in match no. 30 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Monday, October 30, from 2:00 PM IST at the Maharashtra Cricket Affiliation Arena in Pune. With wins against the Netherlands and Britain, Sri Lanka are as of now fifth on the World Cup 2023 focuses table with four places and a net run pace of – 0.205. The island country lost their initial three games – versus South Africa, Pakistan and Australia – however returned to win two in succession.
The Afghanistan group, in the mean time, had two startling triumphs against Britain in Delhi and Pakistan in Chennai, separately, from their five matches in the competition. Their net run rate, notwithstanding, endured a top dog in routs against India and New Zealand, which sees them put seventh in the focuses table.
In their most recent match, Afghanistan spinners, featured by Noor Ahmad, limited Pakistan to 282/7 on a decent batting surface at Chennai. Half-hundreds of years from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah alongside an unbeaten 48 from skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi assisted them with handily taking care of the run pursue to win by eight wickets.
Taking into account the circumstances on offer at the Maharashtra Cricket Affiliation Arena in Pune, Afghanistan may be enticed to handle a similar playing XI against Sri Lanka in a must-win experience for the two Asian sides.
Openers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran
Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are their group’s top run-getters in this competition with 224 and 173 runs, separately, in five matches.
Gurbaz crushed half-hundreds of years in both of their successes in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He midpoints 44.80 while striking at over a run a ball up until this point.
Zadran, in the mean time, pummeled a game dominating 113-ball 87 against Pakistan in the side’s most recent win. The initial pair will be key on a track where run-scoring is at its best with the new ball.
Center request: Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Alikhil
Rahmat Shah has heaped on 150 runs at a normal of 37.50, giving a quiet and consistent impact at no. 3. Captain Shahidi, as well, has been unshakable with the bat, scoring 168 runs at a normal of 42.00. The couple have amassed fifty, each, in this World Cup.
Wicketkeeper-player Ikram Alikhil, then again, has just batted two times in this competition, scoring 58 in the success against Britain and remaining unbeaten on 19 against New Zealand.
The center request will be crucial in laying the stage and keeping up the rhythm in front of the completing phases of the innings.
All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan
Crease bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai has been extremely fruitful at the World Cup 2023. The 23-year-old has scalped four wickets, an excusal once every five overs, and scored 130 runs at a normal of 32.50. He will be imparting the new ball to Naveen-ul-Haq in the powerplay and endowed with the obligation of polishing the innings off with the bat.
Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan are the two pillars for Afghanistan. While Nabi has enlisted 41 runs and three wickets up to this point, Rashid has scored 56 runs and gotten six wickets in the competition. The team will be key in the center and demise overs in the two innings.
Bowlers: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad
Mujeeb Ur Rahman has gotten four wickets in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and is just three wickets from 100 ODI scalps. He bowled an unequivocal spell of 3/51 at Delhi, directing Afghanistan to a triumph against defending champs Britain.
Noor Ahmad was the match-champ against Pakistan, taking three wickets at a normal of 16.33. Spinners will celebrate bowling in Pune, politeness of the pitch and limit aspects.
Naveen-ul-Haq, in the mean time, is the pro pacer in this Afghanistan group. While he went wicketless against India, the 24-year-old scalped two, each, against Pakistan and New Zealand and took one wicket, each, versus Britain and Bangladesh. The Afghan group will depend on his abilities with the new ball to break the Sri Lankan top request in the first powerplay.
Afghanistan Anticipated Playing XI
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
Ibrahim Zadran
Rahmat Shah
Ikram Alikhil
Azmatullah Omarzai
Mohammad Nabi
Rashid Khan
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Naveen-ul-Haq
Noor Ahmad
