Tag: Asia Cup 2023

COLOMBO: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the eighth match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Sri Lanka: 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

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain Patwary, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Matches-52,Sri Lanka-41, Bangladesh-9, NR-2

Asia Cup ODI: Matches-16,Sri Lanka-13, Bangladesh-3

READ: Conway, Mitchell tons power New Zealand to thump England in ODI opener

KARACHI: The much anticipated PAK vs IND clash of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s will have a reserve day, sources told.

According to the details, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has given a green signal for a reserve day for the high-octane clash PAK vs IND clash, scheduled on September 10.

Notably, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) echoed reservations about the scheduling of the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s stage in Colombo where heavy rainfall is forecast until the end of the tournament.

Consequently, if PAK vs IND clash gets washed out on September 10 then the action will resume on September 11 from the stage it was halted.

Furthermore, if the anticipated clash gets postponed to the reserve day then India will have to play back-to-back matches as they are scheduled to take on Sri Lanka on September 12.

The PAK vs IND clash is the only Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture to have a reserve day.

Rain Threat Persists

Despite adding a reserve day for the Super 4s clash between Pakistan and India, dark clouds still loom over the rest of the tournament as the Asia Cup 2023 final and all five remaining Super 4s games are in the capital, where rain is forecast all week.

If all remaining Super 4s fixtures get washed out, Pakistan will qualify for the final with four points as they have already secured two points by thumping Bangladesh by seven wickets on Wednesday.

However, Sri Lanka and India will be tied on three points each, along with the same Net Run Rate and then a coin toss will determine which team will advance into the final to join Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the washouts will result in Bangladesh crashing out of the tournament as they will end up with two points, having already lost a game.

The two fierce rivals came face to face in the group stage of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 on September 2 but the rain played spoilsport after Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah booked India on 266.

The second innings of the blockbuster clash could not be possible and the two sides settled for a point each.

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan team reaches Colombo

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday said the team’s current pace attack, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah reminds him of the era of the great pair of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Pakistan’s pace trio is one of the world’s best fast-bowling attacks, and they proved it in the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

The trio has taken 23 wickets between them in the first three matches of the Asia Cup co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a precursor to next month’s one-day international World Cup in India.

Left-arm pacer Shaheen rattled the Indian top order last week in a group match that was abandoned due to rain after just one innings and remains a threat ahead of a key Super Four clash between the arch-rivals on Sunday.

“These youngsters are very, very talented and I am happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again,” Shoaib Akhtar said in an online chat organised by Star Sports.

“This pace battery reminds me of the old days… reminds me of that era of two Ws (Waqar and Wasim). They are very confident and have the mindset of taking wickets.”

Wasim and Waqar took over 900 ODI wickets between them, striking fear into the hearts of opposing batsmen with their lightning-fast reverse swing deliveries.

Shaheen leads the charge with new-ball partner Naseem, but it is first-change Rauf who tops the Asia Cup bowling chart with nine wickets.

Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh in the opening match of the Super Fours in Lahore on Wednesday with Rauf returning 4-19 from his six overs.

“I would say Shaheen Shah Afridi is on top of his career right now. Haris Rauf has a wicket-taking mindset like Shaheen,” said Shoaib Akhtar, who later joined Pakistan’s pace attack alongside Wasim and Waqar.

“I would just advise Naseem to bowl more wicket-taking deliveries than be a stock bowler. He seams the ball more than Shaheen and can penetrate more.”

Pakistan has had a history of producing great fast bowlers including Fazal Mahmood, Sarfraz Nawaz and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.

Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan remain favourites to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup starting October 5 and predicted Babar Azam’s team will topple India in both tournaments.

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan team reaches Colombo

LAHORE: Haris Rauf’s four-fer, followed by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan’s half-centuries powered Pakistan to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture on Wednesday.

Set to chase 194, Pakistan comfortably amassed the total for the loss of just three wickets with 63 balls to spare, courtesy of anchoring half-centuries by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan had a contrasting start to their pursuit as their opening pair could add 35 runs for the first wicket before Shoriful Islam dismissed Fakhar Zaman in the 10th over.

Fakhar could score 20 off 31 deliveries, hitting three boundaries.

Following his dismissal, Babar Azam joined Imam in the middle and put on a cautious 39-run partnership before Taskin Ahmed castled the Pakistan captain to cause a stir in the pursuit.

Babar scored 17 off 22 deliveries with the help of a boundary.

Coming out to bat at number four, Mohammad Rizwan launched recovery with opener Imam as the pair batted sensibly on their way to a gritty 85-run partnership.

Imam was the core aggressor of his third-wicket stand with Rizwan and also brought up his half-century in the process before falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the 33rd over when Pakistan still needed 35 runs.

Imam-ul-Haq remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with an 84-ball 78, laced up with five boundaries and four sixes.

Rizwan then joined forces with Salman Ali Agha and made sure to steer Pakistan to a comfortable victory with an unbeaten 35-run partnership.

Rizwan smashed seven boundaries and a six on his way to an unbeaten 79-ball 63 while Agha scored 12 not out.

For Bangladesh, Shoriful, Taskin and Mehidy could pick up a wicket apiece.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh could accumulate 193 runs before being bundled out in the 39th over despite anchoring half-centuries from skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Bangladesh had a dismal start to their innings in their first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture as they were reduced to 47/4 inside the first powerplay as the Pakistan pace trio ran through their top order.

Following the slump, captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim launched an astonishing recovery as they put together a brilliant 100-run partnership with the former bringing up his half-century.

The pair appeared to have settled down and was looking to take the game away from Pakistan before Faheem Ashraf struck in the 30th over.

The lanky pacer outdid well-set Shakib with a short-pitched delivery, who holed it straight to Fakhar Zaman at the sweeper.

Shakib scored 53 off 57 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.

Following Shakib’s dismissal, Mushfiqur Rahim was joined at the crease by Shamim Hossain and the pair could add 27 runs for the sixth wicket before Pakistan’s trump card Iftikhar Ahmed got rid of the latter.

Shamim scored a cautious 23-ball 16 which featured a six.

Pakistan’s in-form pacer Haris Rauf then further dented Bangladesh’s march with twin strikes in the 38th over which included the prized scalp of wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur.

Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored for Bangladesh with 64 in 87 balls, laced up with five boundaries.

Haris’s twin strikes forced Bangladesh to slip to 190/8 before Naseem Shah emulated the feat in the next over by removing Afif Hossain and Shoriful Islam to wrap up the visitors’ innings.

Haris Rauf led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 4/19, followed by Naseem Shah’s 3/34 while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf and Iftikhar Ahmed made one scalp each.

READ: Sri Lanka avoid Afghanistan scare to reach Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s

LAHORE: Haris Rauf’s four-fer, followed by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan’s half-centuries powered Pakistan to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture on Wednesday.

PAK 194/3 (39.3 Overs)

Shakib continues

PAK 188/3 (39 Overs)

Shamim Hossein now

PAK 180/3 (38 Overs)

Shakib continues

PAK 173/3 (37 Overs)

Mehidy bowls his last

PAK 168/3 (36 Overs)

Shakib comes back

PAK 167/3 (35 Overs)

Mehidy bowls his ninth

PAK 165/3 (34 Overs)

Hasan continues

PAK 159/3 (33 Overs)

Mehidy continues

PAK 148/2 (32 Overs)

Hasan Mahmud back in the attack

PAK 147/2 (31 Overs)

Mehidy again

PAK 142/2 (30 Overs)

Shakib continues to bowl

PAK 139/2 (29 Overs)

Mehidy continues to bowl

PAK 132/2 (28 Overs)

Shakib continues

PAK 123/2 (27 Overs)

Mehidy bowls again

PAK 120/2 (26 Overs)

Shakib Al Hasan comes into the attack

PAK 114/2 (25 Overs)

Mehidy continues

PAK 105/2 (24 Overs)

Shoriful continues

PAK 102/2 (23 Overs)

Mehidy bowls

PAK 96/2 (22 Overs)

Shoriful comes back

PAK 93/2 (21 Overs)

Mehidy continues

PAK 90/2 (20 Overs)

Taskin bowls his eighth

PAK 89/2 (19 Overs)

Spin for the first time this innings. as Mehidy comes from around.

PAK 88/2 (18 Overs)

Taskin again

PAK 85/2 (17 Overs)

Hasan bowls again

PAK 74/2 (16 Overs)

15.3: A fuller delivery just outside off and kept low, Babar was late to react and only managed the toe-end of his bat and the ball disturbs the timber.

Taskin continues

PAK 74/1 (15 Overs)

Hasan continues to bowl

PAK 59/1 (14 Overs)

Taskin returns

PAK 57/1 (13 Overs)

Hasan continues

PAK 52/1 (12 Overs)

Shoriful continues his opening spell

PAK 44/1 (11 Overs)

Hasan continues

PAK 37/1 (10 Overs)

9.1: Length ball on off angles in and Fakhar looks to flick but is beaten on the inside edge. And that’s crashing into leg-stump

Shoriful continues for his fifth

PAK 35/0 (9 Overs)

Hasan Mahmud comes into the attack

PAK 34/0 (8 Overs)

Shoriful again

PAK 33/0 (7 Overs)

Taskin bowls his fourth

PAK 21/0 (6 Overs)

Shoriful continues to bowl

PAK 15/0 (5 Overs)

Taskin again

PAK 12/0 (4 Overs)

Shoriful continues

PAK 11/0 (3 Overs)

Taskin continues

PAK 11/0 (2 Overs)

Shoriful Islam to bowl from the other end

PAK 8/0 (1 Over)

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq come out to open for Pakistan. Taskin Ahmed to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs BANGLADESH (2nd INNINGS)

LAHORE: Haris Rauf’s four-fer powered Pakistan to bowl out Bangladesh on a meagre 193 in the first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture on Wednesday.

BAN 193 (38.4 Overs)

38.4: Full on middle. Shoriful backs away and looks to drive it on the off side but misses completely and the ball thuds into the stumps.

38.1: Naseem bowls short and Afif goes for a pull. Takes a top edge and goes high in front and Faheem Ashraf runs across from mid-on to take that.

Naseem returns

BAN 192/8 (38 Overs)

37.3: Two in two for Haris Rauf! Length ball outside off, angling in. Taskin looks to drive and only manages a thin edge. Regulation take for Rizwan.

37.2: Mushfiqur looks to give charge to a length delivery outside off that was seaming away. Gets an edge that Rizwan grabs.

Haris comes back

BAN 190/6 (37 Overs)

Iftikhar continues to bowl

BAN 182/6 (36 Overs)

Shaheen continues

BAN 176/6 (35 Overs)

34.4: Iftikhar bowled short and quicker. Shamim went hard with his attempted swing across the line but ended up getting a top edge for a reverse-cup catch for Imam.

Iftikhar continues

BAN 174/5 (34 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi returns

BAN 163/5 (33 Overs)

Iftikhar bowls again

BAN 160/5 (32 Overs)

Faheem bowls

BAN 152/5 (31 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

BAN 150/5 (30 Overs)

29.1: Short of a length on middle, getting it to angle across to finish on off stump. Shakib went for the pull but found the fielder.

Faheem Ashraf continues

BAN 147/4 (29 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed comes into the attack

BAN 142/4 (28 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Salman Ali Agha

BAN 139/4 (27 Overs)

Shadab continues to bowl from the other end

BAN 131/4 (26 Overs)

Salman Ali Agha comes into the attack

BAN 120/4 (25 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 116/4 (24 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

BAN 114/4 (23 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 111/4 (22 Overs)

Haris Rauf replaces Naseem Shah

BAN 105/4 (21 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 99/4 (20 Overs)

Naseem continues

BAN 91/4 (19 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 87/4 (18 Overs)

Naseem Shah is back in the attack

BAN 83/4 (17 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 78/4 (16 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf continues

BAN 72/4 (15 Overs)

Shadab Khan comes into the attack

BAN 67/4 (14 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Haris Rauf on the other end

BAN 65/4 (13 Overs)

Shaheen replaces Faheem

BAN 58/4 (12 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

BAN 53/4 (11 Overs)

Faheem to continue

BAN 49/4 (10 Overs)

9.1: Towhid Hridoy bowled as a 145 kph delivery crashed into the stumps.

Haris Rauf continues

BAN 47/3 (9 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Shaheen

BAN 46/3 (8 Overs)

7.3: Naim tried to pull, but the rapid pace meant the ball took the top edge. Bowler moved to his left and took an easy catch

Haris Rauf replaces Naseem Shah

BAN 44/2 (7 Overs)

Shaheen continues to bowl

BAN 36/2 (6 Overs)

Naseem continues

BAN 31/2 (5 Overs)

4.5: There was movement and bounce, as Litton ended up fending to the keeper.

Shaheen Afridi continues

BAN 26/1 (4 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues from the other end

BAN 13/1 (3 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

BAN 4/1 (2 Overs)

1.1: Mehidy Hasan Miraz went for the clip, only to end up flicking to Fakhar at a comfortable height

Naseem Shah to bowl from the other end

BAN 0/0 (1 Over)

Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz come out to open for Bangladesh.

Shaheen Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs BANGLADESH (1st INNINGS)

LAHORE: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the seventh match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain Patwary, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Asia Cup ODI: Matches-14,Pakistan-12, Bangladesh-2

READ: Australia unveil squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023

LAHORE: Fast bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has replaced Mohammad Nawaz in Pakistan’s Playing XI for their first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture against Bangladesh on Wednesday.

According to the details, Faheem Ashraf, who made his ODI return in the recently-held ODI series between Pakistan and Afghanistan, managed to make a cut to Pakistan’s Playing XI for their first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture.

Our playing XI for the Super 4 match against Bangladesh 🇵🇰💪#AsiaCup2023 | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/kEfGMsvsgr

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 5, 2023

The Playing XI features Pakistan captain Babar Azam, his deputy Shadab Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.

The Asia Cup 2023 group-stage clash between Pakistan and India marked the two team’s first faceoff in the ODI format since the 2019 World Cup. However, cricket fans’ quest to witness the much-anticipated clash got unsettled as persistent rain washed out the game.

Hosts Pakistan, who started their Asia Cup campaign with a crushing 238-run victory over Nepal in the curtain-raiser, became the first side to make it to the next round after sharing points with arch-rivals India.

Following their qualification in the Super 4s, Pakistan was poised to face either Bangladesh or Afghanistan.

But Bangladesh’s 89-run victory over Afghanistan a day later put them in a strong position to advance into the Super 4s.

Meanwhile, the last group-stage match of the ongoing Asia Cup between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will decide the fortune of the two sides in the tournament.

Sri Lanka set Afghanistan to chase 292, courtesy of a brilliant 92-run knock by wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis.

But Afghanistan will need to chase down the total in 37.1 Overs to pip Lanka to qualify for the Super 4s.

It is worth mentioning here that when this story was filed Afghanistan had raised 120/3 in 18 overs with Rahmat Shah (45) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (36) set on the crease.

READ: Mendis’ 92 powers Sri Lanka to 291 against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2023

LAHORE: Sri Lankan bowlers held their nerves calm to deny Afghanistan a miraculous run chase and stormed into the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s.

Afghanistan had to chase down 292 in 37.1 overs to make it to the next round and they came within touching distance to pull off a sensational feat, courtesy of quickfire knocks by their middle-order.

Afghanistan needed three off one delivery to secure the Super 4s berth but Mujeeb Ur Rahman fired the ball off Dhananjaya de Silva straight to Sadeera Samarawickrama at long-on.

However, Afghanistan still had a chance to make it to the Super 4s if they got to 295 in 37.4 overs but Fazalhaq Farooqi, the number 11, seemed unaware of the equation as he blocked the next two deliveries off de Silva before falling on the third.

With two wickets in four deliveries, Dhananjaya de Silva snatched a narrow two-run victory from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan got off to a dismal start to their pursuit as they were two down for 27 in five overs after both openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (4) and Ibrahim Zadran (7) failed to score big.

Gulbadin Naib put on a brief partnership with Rahmat Shah before perishing in the ninth over to leave Afghanistan reeling at 50/3.

Rahmat was then joined by skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and the pair knitted an anchoring 71-run partnership to stop the flow of wickets.

Rahmat and Shahidi had anchored the run chase but the required run rate surged drastically in the process.

The dire need to score big got the better of Shah, who misread the slower bowl from Kasun Rajitha and ended up spooning to Pathirana, who took a low well-judged catch.

Rahmat scored 45 off 40 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and a six.

Coming out to bat at number six with Afghanistan at 121/4 in 18.4 overs, Mohammad Nabi turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting.

The experienced all-rounded thrashed Sri Lankan bowlers all around the ground to score the fastest half-century for Afghanistan in ODI cricket, taking just 24 deliveries.

His fifth-wicket partnership with Shahidi had pushed Sri Lanka to the backfoot but Maheesh Theekshana claimed the prized wicket of Nabi in the 27th over to draw a much-needed breakthrough for Sri Lanka.

Nabi remained the top-scorer for Afghanistan in the all-important Asia Cup 2023 fixture with a 32-ball 65 which featured six boundaries and five sixes.

Spirited Afghanistan seemed unhurt by Nabi’s dismissal as Karim Janat (22) and Hashmatullah Shahidi kept scoring rapidly before Dunith Wellalage removed both batters in the same over.

Shahidi scored an anchoring 59 off 66 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six.

Following back-to-back blows, Najibullah Zadran and Rashid Khan took the reigns of Afghanistan’s run chase and kept their side in the hunt with crucial cameos.

The pair added 39 runs at a rapid pace for the eighth wicket before Kasun Rajitha removed Zadran to pose a major dent to Afghanistan’s onslaught. Zadran scored 23 off 15 balls.

Rashid, who scored 12 runs off Dunith Wellalage in the 37th over to bring it down to three off one, remained not out with a 16-ball 27.

Kasun Rajitha led the bowling attack for Sri Lanka with 4/79, followed by Wellalage and de Silva taking two each while Matheesha Pathirana and Theekshana made one scalp each.

Sri Lanka got off to a flying start after winning the toss with an opening stand of 63 runs between Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne before Gulbadin Naib picked three wickets in quick succession to reduce Sri Lanka to 86-3.

Nissanka played a 41-run knock in 40 balls, featuring six boundaries, while Karunaratne scored 32 off 35, laced with as many boundaries.

Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka then knitted a 102-run partnership in 99 balls for the fourth wicket to recover from the loss of three quick wickets before Rashid Khan removed Asalanka to give Afghanistan a much-needed breakthrough.

Subsequently, Mendis went back to the pavilion, missing out on his hundred in an unfortunate fashion as the ball ricocheted off Rashid’s hands as he spilt Dasun Shanaka’s catch off his own bowling.

Mendis scored a brisk 92 off 84 balls, laced with six boundaries and three sixes.

Shanaka was removed two balls later as Rashid Khan castled him, reducing Sri Lanka to 227-7.

Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana then counter-attacked with a 64-run stand to lift Sri Lanka to finish at 291 in 50 overs.

Wellalage remained unbeaten at 33 off 39, while Maheesh Theekshan was bowled by Gulbadin Naib on the final ball of the innings after scoring 28 off 24.

Naib topped the bowling charts with figures of 4-60, while Rashid Khan contributed with two wickets.

Afghanistan is set to chase the total in 37 overs to qualify for the Super Four Stage of the Asia Cup 2023.

READ: Los Angeles Olympics 2028 ‘very likely’ to feature T20 Cricket

Bangladesh’s top-order batter Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out of the remainder of the Asia Cup 2023 on Tuesday with a hamstring injury and faces a race to be fit for the World Cup 2023 in India next month.

Najmul Hossain Shanto is the leading scorer at the Asia Cup with 89 and 104 against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan respectively to help Bangladesh into the last four.

Najmul felt some discomfort in his left hamstring during his innings against Afghanistan in Lahore on Sunday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said.

“The player had complained of hamstring pain during batting and could not field. We had an MRI scan done confirming a muscle tear,” team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said.

“As a precaution, Shanto will not take any further part in the tournament and will be returning home to start rehab and prepare for the World Cup.”

The ODI Cricket World 2023 will kick off on October 5, with defending champions England facing runners-up of the 2019 World Cup New Zealand in the curtain raiser at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Najmul Hossain Shanto is Bangladesh’s top run-scorer in 2023 across all formats with 1,078 runs, including four hundreds and five fifties.

News of his injury came a day after batsman Litton Das was declared fit to join the Asia Cup 2023 squad having recovered from a fever that forced him to miss the Asia Cup group-stage matches.

Bangladesh have also lost frontline seamer Ebadot Hossain while all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz retired hurt against Afghanistan after making a career-best 112.

Bangladesh will face Pakistan in Lahore on Wednesday in the Super Four Stage match of Asia Cup 2023.

READ: India announce squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023

LAHORE: Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the sixth match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Sri Lanka: 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

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

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

ODI Matches-10, Sri Lanka-6, Afghanistan-3, NR-1

READ: ICC World Cup 2023 Trophy reaches Pakistan for a historic three-day tour