Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka: Tips to pick ideal Dream11
What's the story
Following a not so ideal start to their ICC World Cup 2019 campaign, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka lock horns in match number seven at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Tuesday. While Afghanistan lost to defending champions Australia, Lanka are coming off a loss to New Zealand. As both aim to grab their opening win, we present the ideal Dream11 for this tie.
Information
Mohammad Shahzad to don the big gloves
Talking about the wicket-keeping department, Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad is the ideal guy to don the gloves. Being an opener, he is likely to give fans enough points. While he failed to fire in the last game, he would look to dominate the out-of-form Lankan bowlers.
Batsmen
Najibullah Zadran and Dimuth Karunaratne headline the batting department
As for the batting, the order starts with Dimuth Karunaratne, who was Lanka's top-scorer in the last match, as he slammed 52. Being a veteran, he is likely to play another solid innings. Angelo Mathews also gets the nod. For Afghanistan, Najibullah Zadran was their top scorer (51), making him another favorite in this XI. He would be followed by team-mate Rahmat Shah.
All-rounders
Gulbadin Naib and Thisara Perera among top all-rounders
Analyzing the all-round department, Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib is a fine choice, owing to his sound batting and bowling performance in the last tie. From Sri Lanka, Thisara Perera is a no-brainer, owing to his explosive batting skills, besides he is an economical bowler. He would have Dhananjaya de Silva on his side, who can bat, and can also be handy with the ball.
Bowlers
Rashid Khan and Suranga Lakmal to dominate bowling attack
The bowling department is likely to have superstars, starting with charming spinner Rashid Khan. He can extract the spin from any surface. He would be supported by his team-mate and fellow spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman, who was effective with the ball in the last game. From Sri Lanka, we are considering Suranga Lakmal over Lasith Malinga, since the latter went for runs against Kiwis.
Leadership
Karunaratne the skipper, Najibullah his deputy
Picking the leaders for this tie is not much of a task. Going by the performance so far, Lanka's veteran Karunaratne, who led his side from the front in the last game, should ideally be the captain. Afghanistan's Najibullah is the ideal man to be his deputy, as his prolific batting ability is sure to earn the fans extra points.