We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Probable XIs
Probable XI for Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai/Darwish Rasooli, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Probable XI for Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha
Pitch Report
Venue: Gabba, Brisbane
(Based on the last 3 games)
1st innings average score: 148
2nd innings average score: 137
Wickets per innings: 7
Type: Bouncy wicket. Hardly any turn available for spinners.
Weather: Showers forecast.
Wins
Batting 1st: 67%
Batting 2nd: 33%
Fantasy Tips of The Day
In the last three T20Is at Brisbane, five fifties have been registered and 17 sixes launched.
Three seamers have taken 3 or more wickets in an innings.
Smart Picks
Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana have collectively added 190 points between them for bagging 19 wickets in the tournament. Despite the seamer-friendly conditions at Brisbane, the duo remains Sri Lanka’s biggest trump card with the ball.
Lahiru Kumara might have picked only 3 wickets, but he has been rattling the batters with his hostile bowling. The spicy wicket at the Gabba could further propel him to unleash some thunderbolts.
The Brisbane wicket demands sound technique and composure. Fortunately for Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran possesses both qualities. By the virtue of not playing any false strokes, he has accumulated 212 runs at 53 in his last 5 competitive T20s.
Mujeeb Ur Rehman has played plenty of cricket at the Gabba, representing Brisbane in the Australian T20 League. He knows exactly at what pace and length to operate.
Amidst two single-digit scores, Kusal Mendis has also slammed as many half-centuries in this tournament. When he last batted against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, he got 36 off 19.
In the same encounter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz blasted a 45-ball 84 (4 fours and 6 sixes). His attacking instinct in the powerplay often generates a bunch of bonus points.
In the last 4 games, Charith Asalanka has provided a 30-run bonus for three consecutive games. He enjoys the ball coming onto the bat and could go all guns blazing at Brisbane.
