Sri Lanka's Predicted XI vs Afghanistan, Cricket World Cup 2023: Dushmantha Chameera To Get The Nod?

Looking to keep their semi-finals hopes alive, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will face each other in the 30th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on October 30, starting at 2:00 PM IST. After beating England and Pakistan, Afghanistan moved up to seventh spot in the World Cup 2023 points table, notching four points with a net run rate of -0.969. They were defeated by Bangladesh, India and New Zealand earlier in the tournament.

Sri Lanka, too have registered two victories in five matches in this World Cup. The Lankans lost their first three matches, going down against South Africa, Pakistan and Australia. However, they bounced back with back-to-back convincing wins against the Netherlands and England.

Led by Lahiru Kumara's 3/35, Sri Lanka bowled out England for 156 in their latest match. Kasun Rajitha and Angelo Mathews also chipped in with two wickets, each, while Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Mark Wood. Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama were magnificent in the run chase for Sri Lanka with a 137-run partnership, taking them to an eight-wicket victory with 146 balls to spare.

Angelo Matthews, who replaced the injured Matheesha Pathirana, is expected to keep his place in the playing XI after an impressive bowling performance. The Kusal Mendis-led Sri Lanka could field the same playing XI, as from their win versus England, in an all-Asian encounter against Afghanistan on Monday.

Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka slammed his fourth half-century in a row in the victory against England with his World Cup 2023 best score, an unbeaten 77. The 25-year-old opener averages 60.75 with a strike-rate of 91.35 while scoring 243 runs in the