Asia Cup 2025: 3 Players to watch out for in Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, Match 11

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will face off in match 5 of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 tournament. The Group B match will take place on September 13, 2025, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Sri Lanka will enter the Asia Cup with a 2-1 T20I series victory over Zimbabwe. They also played Bangladesh at home in three T20Is, losing the series 1-2, and Charith Asalanka and his team will be motivated to exact revenge on Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.

Afghanistan easily won their opening game against Hong Kong and will now face a challenge from Sri Lanka to qualify for the Super 4s stage. Afghanistan performed well in the tri-series leading up to the Asia Cup, reaching the final. They overcame the UAE and Pakistan once in the league stage before losing to them in the final.

Here are the 3 players to watch out for in Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, Match 11 of the Asia Cup 2025:

1. Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga has established himself as one of the premier leg-spinners in modern T20I cricket. Since making his debut for Sri Lanka in 2017, he has impressed with his quickish leg-spin, mixing sharp googlies and variations that keep batters guessing. With 134 wickets in 81 matches at an economy of just 6.97, including best figures of 4/9, he remains Sri Lanka’s trump card with the ball.

For nearly a decade, Hasaranga has spearheaded the Lankan spin attack, even taking up the responsibility of captaincy in the shortest format. Known for operating in the middle overs and even stepping up at the death, his ability to deliver breakthroughs with clever variations makes him a genuine match-winner.

2. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan continues to be Afghanistan’s biggest match-winner in T20Is, sitting atop their wicket charts with 169 scalps in 100 matches at a miserly economy of 6.06 and best figures of 5/3. His sharp leg-spin, laced with googlies and quick sliders, has left batters across the globe guessing. Few bowlers thrive in the T20 format like Rashid, where the pressure to score often plays right into his hands.

The Afghan captain’s guile and experience make him a dangerous proposition in any battle, even though back surgery may have somewhat reduced his sting, and opposition batters are now studying him more than ever.

3. Pathum Nissanka

Pathum Nissanka has 2,068 runs with a strike rate of 124.42 in 70 T20I games, with 17 half-centuries and a best score of 90. Nissanka has been a breath of fresh air in the Sri Lankan squad as he brings a new dimension with the bat in the XI. He can both play aggressively and hold down the fort.

Nissanka is a master of playing spinners and will come in handy against the Afghanistan spin attack of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi, and Allah Ghazanfar. Nissanka knows how to take advantage of powerplay overs against both spin and pace.

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