Afghanistan cricket team skipper Asghar Afghan invited Angelo Mathews -led Sri Lanka cricket team to field first after winning the toss in the third ODI of Asia Cup 2018 on Monday. The match is being played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews said, ” I was going to have a bat first as well. Looks a good pitch, decent covering of grass and should hold on well. Looks good to bat but you cannot win all the tosses. (On being in a must-win scenario) The more you think, more pressure you will put yourself under. Crucial to go out there and have some fun. He (Malinga) was terrific last game and hopefully he can contribute to a winning cause today. Three changes due to the conditions. Akila comes back in, as does Shehan Jayasuriya and Dushmantha Chameera. Aponso and Dilruwan miss out along with Suranga.”
Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan said, ” We will bat first, want to put runs on the board and then defend it with our bowling. Seems like too much grass but we are used to playing in these conditions. We know the conditions well. We have one seamer, one all-rounder and three spinners apart from one part-time spinner.”
Teams:
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Shahzad(w), Ihsanullah Janat, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews(c), Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera