﻿{
    "id": "177754",
    "author": "23",
    "cnmid": "1136885",
    "title": "Asia Cup: Afghanistan Win Toss, Elect To Bat First Against Sri Lanka In Must-win Game",
    "lang": "en",
    "series": "1",
    "cup_year": "0000",
    "article_type": "General",
    "excerpt": "Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium: Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in a must-win Group B match of the 2025 Men\u2019s T20 Asia Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.",
    "subtype": null,
    "editor1": "Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium: Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in a must-win Group B match of the 2025 Men\u2019s T20 Asia Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.<p>Sri Lanka enter their final Group B game at the top of the points table with two wins from as many games, while Afghanistan, currently placed third, are in a do-or-die scenario. A win for Afghanistan would see them leapfrog Bangladesh and secure a spot in the Super Fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>After winning the toss, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said Darwish Rasooli and Mujeeb Ur Rahman come in for AM Ghazanfar and Gulbadin Naib. \u201cRuns on the board are important on this wicket. It is a must-win game; we have to keep it simple and do the basics right. It is a new surface; we have played a lot in Abu Dhabi, 165+ is a good score,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka said left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Dunith Wellalage comes in for off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. \u201cI would have done the same thing. We have spoken about our middle-order batting; we have two in-form openers, and that is an advantage for us. We have to improve our middle-order batting; we want to execute rather than talk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Pitch report by Mike Haysman and Ravi Shastri said, \"The tracks here are of a different colour. There's a lot more grass than on the adjacent pitch. It might be two-paced, and there will be some help for the pacers. You have to give yourself some time as a batter.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cThank God for the breeze, it will help the players. The ball comes on here better than Dubai. The ball might not turn much, but the Afghanistan spinners can spin a web around anyone. Get a good start and keep rotating the strike instead of looking for big hits.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Playing XIs:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cThank God for the breeze, it will help the players. The ball comes on here better than Dubai. The ball might not turn much, but the Afghanistan spinners can spin a web around anyone. Get a good start and keep rotating the strike instead of looking for big hits.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5><b>Also Read: <\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/live-cricket-score\">LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/h5><p>Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, and Nuwan Thushara<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>Article Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/ians.in\/english-wire\/sports\/1\" rel=\"nofollow\">IANS<\/a><\/h5>",
    "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/asia-cup-afghanistan-win-toss-elect-to-bat-first-against-sri-lanka-in-must-win-game.jpg",
    "alt_img": "Asia Cup: Afghanistan win toss, elect to bat first against Sri Lanka in must-win game",
    "alt_title": "Afghanistan win toss, elect to bat first against Sri Lanka in must-win game in Group B of the Men's ",
    "image1": null,
    "video": null,
    "seo_title": "Asia Cup: Afghanistan Win Toss, Elect To Bat First Against Sri Lanka In Must-win Game On Cricketnmore",
    "seo_desc": "Asia Cup: Afghanistan Win Toss, Elect To Bat First Against Sri Lanka In Must-win Game, Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium: Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in a must-win Group.",
    "seo_keywords": "Sri Lanka, Asia Cup T20, Abu Dhabi, T20 Asia Cup, Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Super Fours, Rashid Khan, Darwish Rasooli, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Gulbadin Naib, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Mike Haysman, Ravi Shastri",
    "tag": "",
    "tagging": "Sri Lanka,Asia Cup T20,Abu Dhabi,T20 Asia Cup,Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium,Super Fours,Rashid Khan,Darwish Rasooli,Mujeeb Ur Rahman,AM Ghazanfar,Gulbadin Naib,Charith Asalanka,Dunith Wellalage,Maheesh Theekshana,Mike Haysman,Ravi Shastri",
    "status": "1",
    "img_rpt": "0",
    "google": "1",
    "standout": "0",
    "edapps": "0",
    "pulse": "0",
    "no_index": "0",
    "feed": "0",
    "fixture": null,
    "slug": "asia-cup-afghanistan-win-toss-elect-to-bat-first-against-sri-lanka-in-must-win-game",
    "user_id": "0",
    "read_count": "0",
    "ians_date": null,
    "ians_time": null,
    "server_time": null,
    "trash": "0",
    "view_count": "1349",
    "page_break": "0",
    "instant_articles": "1",
    "auto_link": "1",
    "created": "2025-09-18 20:04:04",
    "updated": "2025-09-18 20:04:04",
    "img_from": "Image Source: IANS",
    "img_source": null,
    "schedule_publish": null,
    "news_keywords": "Sri Lanka, Asia Cup T20, Abu Dhabi, T20 Asia Cup, Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Super Fours, Rashid Khan, Darwish Rasooli, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Gulbadin Naib, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Mike Haysman, Ravi Shastri",
    "livescore_text": null,
    "livescore_link": null,
    "btn_text": null,
    "resend_feed": "1",
    "google_feed": "1",
    "read_more": "1",
    "posted_by": "23",
    "jio_date": "2025-09-18 20:04:04",
    "scheduled": "0",
    "news_now": "1",
    "breaking_news": "1",
    "google_date": null,
    "featured": "0",
    "pred_match_id": null,
    "article_content_type": null,
    "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/asia-cup-afghanistan-win-toss-elect-to-bat-first-against-sri-lanka-in-must-win-game-177754"
}