Asia Cup 2023, AFG vs SL | 5 Player Battles To Watch Out For In Match 6

Sri Lanka cricket team (Source: Twitter)

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will lock horns in the sixth match of the Asia Cup 2023, scheduled at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on September 5.

The fixture has great significance in terms of deciding the qualification of both the teams for the Super Four round. While Sri Lanka have to ensure they do not lose by a huge margin, it is a must-win affair for Afghanistan.

The contest is filled with many player battles that could prove to be detrimental for both sides. They are as follows -

Kusal Mendis vs Mohammad Nabi

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis had a horrible outing in the game versus Bangladesh, however, he is still a potent no.3 for his team. To stop him from coming back to form, Afghanistan can rely on Mohammad Nabi, who has dismissed him twice in ODIs.

Pathum Nissanka vs Rashid Khan

Although Pathum Nissanka could not deliver with the bat against Bangladesh, he was the second-highest run-scorer in the ODI World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. To keep him quiet, leg-spinner Rashid Khan can be used.

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Charith Asalanka vs Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Coming off a solid fifty, Sri Lanka's middle-order batter Charith Asalanka holds a terrific ODI record against Afghanistan's premier spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Kasun Rajitha

Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz brings in a different dimension in the team's batting line-up via his attacking approach. However, when pitted against Kasun Rajitha, his numbers do not speak very highly of him.

Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Dhananjaya de Silva

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi scored a fifty in a losing-cause against Bangladesh. While his knock might have added to his confidence, his stats versus off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva does not hold him in a good stead.

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