Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Prediction: Sri Lanka are on a 11-game winning run in ODIs

Afghanistan will be facing off against Sri Lanka in the sixth game of the Asia Cup at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Sri Lanka are on a 11-game winning run in ODIs. Who will win this game?

Afghanistan, considered the underdog in Group B, is far from being a team to underestimate. Although they faced a setback in their opening match, we anticipate a strong comeback and an impressive performance in their upcoming game.

The opening duo of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz holds the key to providing Afghanistan with a solid start. Zadran, in particular, is in excellent form, having scored a rapid half-century in their recent match. This aggressive opening pair complements the more seasoned middle-order comprising Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, and Najibullah Zadran.

The team also boasts a trio of dynamic all-rounders in Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, and Gulbadin Naib, who have the potential to be highly destructive with the bat. However, Afghanistan's bowling department presents a challenge. While Gulbadin and Fazalhaq Farooqi are talented seamers, their consistency in taking wickets has been lacking.

To enhance their chances of victory, Afghanistan's spinners, particularly Rashid Khan, will need to deliver an exceptional performance in this match.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Sri Lanka has been displaying remarkable form in One Day Internationals recently. Following their victory in the World Cup Qualifiers, they kicked off their Asia Cup campaign with a win against arch-rivals Bangladesh.

Despite the absence of some key players, Dasun Shanaka effectively led his team in the opening fixture. It all began with a disciplined bowling performance from their bowlers.

Notably, Matheesha Pathirana delivered an outstanding performance, securing 4 wickets while conceding just 32 runs. Kasun Rajitha provided valuable support from the other end. Despite not taking any wickets, Rajitha succeeded in applying pressure on the opposition batsmen by maintaining tight control over the runs.

The spinners demonstrated precise line and length, and the team expects a similar performance from them in the upcoming matches.

As Sri Lanka prepares for this crucial encounter, there are some areas they aim to enhance. It is imperative for one of their top-order batsmen, whether it be Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, or Kusal Mendis, to deliver a substantial innings.

The middle order is reinforced by Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka, both of whom showed good form by notching individual half-centuries. They will have pivotal roles to play. Additionally, Dhananjaya de Silva and Shanaka will aim to provide a late boost to the batting lineup.

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana

The Gaddafi Stadium boasts a flat track that favors the batsmen, providing an ideal surface for them to showcase their skills. The pitch leans towards the drier side, posing a challenge for the seamers who will need to toil for movement off the surface. There could be some late swing as well. Typically, teams aim for a minimum score of 300 when batting first, even though the average first-inning total stands at 252. Expect warm and dry weather conditions to prevail. Afghanistan has demonstrated its capabilities with strong past performances and boasts a squad featuring quality players. While they have the potential to put up a commendable fight, we anticipate that they may ultimately come up short against the Sri Lankan challenge.