Afghanistan opt to bowl against SL in Asia Cup opener

Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi elected to bowl against Sri Lanka after winning the toss in the Asia Cup opener here on Saturday.

''It's a fresh pitch, no cricket in Dubai for a while so we are taking a chance. In the middle, we have allrounders as well,'' the Afghanistan skipper said after winning the toss.

For Afghanistan, this is their 100th T20 International match.

The Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka will have two new faces in Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana.

Teams: Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (c), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana.