Afghanistan will need to play with more flair and freedom in their must-win Asia Cup group match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
India and Bangladesh have two points each with Suryakumar Yadav's men leading the standings owing to a superior net run rate. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the third and fourth spots respectively.
The islanders, led by Charith Asalanka, have quietly built a formidable unit combining top-order solidity with middle-order power and a spin attack tailor-made for UAE conditions.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title. The 10th edition of the 20-overs global showpiece event will run from February 7 to March 8.
In all the three group matches, Sri Lanka thrived while chasing and one would expect the Islanders to continue the same trend if they win the toss on Saturday.
Bangladesh pulled off a thrilling four-wicket win against Sri Lanka, chasing 169 with just one ball to spare in Dubai on Saturday.
ICC match referee David Boon imposed the sanction after Sri Lanka were found to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
After being put into bat, Sri Lanka started brightly as the openers put up a 51-run stand before Pathum Nissanka was run out attempting a risky third run.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in familiar home conditions next month.
Along with Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana among spin bowling options.
Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has asserted his side doesn't have a "mental block" against India after going down in the Super Over in Friday's Asia Cup match in Dubai.
Nissanka's cameo guides Sri Lanka to 4 wicket win over Zimbabwe in 1st T20I
Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka felt the first two overs bowled by pacers Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera set the platform for their commanding Asia Cup victory over Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Abhishek Sharma reached 931 ratings point, which is 12 more than the previous best rating of 919 attained by England's Dawid Malan in 2020.
Felt like a final, Arshdeep was always my choice for Super Over: Surya
Suranga Wellalage, Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage's father, died on September 18, the same day his son played the Asia Cup Group fixture against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.
India pacer Arshdeep Singh linked his success in the Super Over against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super 4s match to his ability to nail the wide yorkers.
Pathum Nissanka scored an unbeaten 101 as Sri Lanka booked their place at the 50-over Cricket World Cup in India.
Sri Lanka ended on the wrong side of history, slumping to their second-lowest T20I total and lowest all-out total by a Test-playing nation against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at Harare on Saturday.
Pakistan survived a wonderful spell from an enraged spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in an intense Super 4 match to stay alive in the Asia Cup, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
'Pathum Nissanka is easily one of the best batters to have come out of Sri Lanka in the recent past and he has delivered once again,' he tweeted with an applause emoji.
IMAGES from the third Test between England and Sri Lanka at The Oval on Saturday
'Talat has done very well in domestic cricket. I know him for several years. He has been working really hard with his game, so I'm really happy for him.'
Sri Lanka left with regrets after squandering strong start: Pathum Nissanka
Bangladesh handed Sri Lanka a crushing seven-wicket defeat in their first warm-up match of the ICC ODI World Cup, in Guwahati on Friday to make a winning start.
The just-concluded Asia Cup was deeply saturated with off-field drama. But even amidst the bedlam, there were sparks of brilliance, emergence of new stars and tears of failure.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of Asia Cup 2025.
Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya led the charge with a five-wicket haul as Bangladesh collapsed for just 133 in their second innings, handing Sri Lanka a win by an innings and 78 runs.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction saw some foreign names earning big bucks, headlined by Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green
Against Bangladesh, Samson wasn't even considered good enough to come inside the top seven of the line-up and that begs a question as to what is he doing in the team if he isn't good enough to come ahead of Axar Patel.
Australia, who have already secured their place in the final of the World Test Championship against South Africa, won the opening Test, also in Galle, by an innings and 242 runs.
The result was the first drawn game in Galle for 12 years.
Players from the other teams who could push the Men in Blue to the limit.
New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy was adjudged player of the series for his eight wickets.
Travis Head impressed in Australia's 2023 tour of India showing his proficiency against spin
Injury-hit Sri Lanka and South Africa seek winning start to World Cup
De Silva and veteran Angelo Mathews were not included in the 16-man T20 squad but there was a place for Hasaranga.
This is Sri Lanka's biggest victory over Australia in ODIs in terms of runs.
South Africa require five wickets and Sri Lanka need 143 runs as the second Test heads for a potentially exciting conclusion
Pictures from the 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka being played in Colombo, Sri Lanka
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