In the ongoing Asia Cup, Afghanistan is set to face Sri Lanka in Lahore on September 5, 2023, marking the final game of the group stage. In Group B, Sri Lanka currently leads with two points from one win, while Bangladesh stands in the second position with two points, securing one win and suffering one loss. This upcoming match holds immense significance for Afghanistan, especially after their recent loss to Bangladesh, as they now face a must-win situation and must secure a substantial victory to advance to the ‘Super 4’ stage.
Following Bangladesh’s victory over Afghanistan on September 3, the Bangla Tigers have secured their place in the ‘Super 4’ with a positive run rate of 0.373. Esteemed cricket statistician Mazher Arshad confirmed this on Twitter, stating: “Bangladesh has qualified for the Super Four stage. For Afghanistan to qualify, they will need to beat Sri Lanka by approximately 70 runs or chase in approximately 36 overs. #AsiaCup2023.”
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Even after the match, ESPNCricinfo reported, “If SL lose tomorrow by a small margin they remain above Bangladesh but Afghanistan can’t go above Bangladesh. If Afghanistan wins heavily to qualify, they may end up going above Bangladesh’s NRR but they will impact SL’s NRR so heavily that it will go below Bangladesh’s. Basically, there is no scenario where both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka can end on a higher NRR than Bangladesh.”
Nevertheless, this endeavor will not be a straightforward one for Afghanistan, as Sri Lanka currently enjoys an impressive 11-match unbeaten streak in ODIs. This streak stands as Sri Lanka’s best-ever performance in the 50-over format throughout its history. In contrast, Afghanistan has faced defeat in its last five ODIs, securing just one victory against Sri Lanka in June 2023 during their last five encounters. Expect an exciting showdown in Lahore as Afghanistan seeks to overcome the odds and secure its place in the ‘Super 4’ stage.