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For the opening fixture of the Asian Legends League 2026, Sri Lankan Lions and Afghanistan Pathans are set to lock horns at the Lotus Sports Club Ground in Lusaka, Zambia.
As both of the teams are willing to start their campaigns on a strong note, both of the sides will go for a win in today’s fixture. But who will win the match? Let’s find out.
Sri Lankan Lions vs Afghanistan Pathans Live Streaming & Broadcast Details
The match will be streamed live in India through the Sony Sports Network and FanCode. Cricket fans can tune in to the Sony Sports channels to watch it on television, and for online viewers, they can open the FanCode app.
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network TV channels
Live Streaming: FanCode
Match Time: 3:30 PM IST
Sri Lankan Lions vs Afghanistan Pathans Squads
Sri Lankan Lions: Kumar Sangakkara(w), Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera(c), Malinda Pushpakumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna, Thilan Thushara, Jeevan Mendis, Akalanka Ganegama, Ajantha Mendis, Gihan Rupasinghe, Chaturanga de Silva, Vikum Sanjaya
Afghanistan Pathans: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad(w), Sediqullah Pacha, Asghar Afghan(c), Samiullah Shinwari, Nijat Masood, Dawlat Zadran, Waqarullah Ishaq, Aftab Alam, Shabir Noori, Wasim Akram, Munir Ahmad Kakkar, Rokhan Barakzai, Batin Shah, Khaiber Omar, Wafadar Momand, Riaz Hassan
Sri Lankan Lions vs Afghanistan Pathans Match Prediction - Team Preview & Key Players
Sri Lankan Lions
Sri Lankan Lions, one of the favourites to reach the play-offs, have arrived to play the tournament with a well-composed squad. Their batting will be their biggest strength, with their captain Thisara Perera, who has 4873 international runs and 282 wickets. The middle-order of the team also looks strong in the presence of Milinda Siriwardane, Chaturanga de Silva, and Jeevan Mendis.
Lions’ bowling unit could prove to be their weak link, as they will mostly have to depend on mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis.
Thisara Perera: Thisara Perera, the captain, is the heart of the team. If he could play in his vintage form, both with bat and ball, then Sri Lankan Lions will have the edge over the Afghans.
Ajantha Mendis: Ajantha Mendis, who was once considered an unplayable spinner, will be under the spotlight again in international cricket.
Afghanistan Pathans
Afghanistan Pathans also join the tournament with a strong squad, with Mohammad Shahzad as the captain, who will play the anchor role at the top of their batting order. In the middle-order, the responsibility will be on another experienced cricketer, Asghar Afghan. Apart from these two cricketers, the remaining side will have to rely on multiple unpolished talents.
Mohammad Shahzad: The opening batter and the captain of the team will have to take care of his batting as the team’s future in the tournament will mostly rely on his form.
Asghar Afghan: Asghar Afghan will play a pivotal role in the team with his all-round abilities.
Sri Lankan Lions vs Afghanistan Pathans Probable Playing XI
Sri Lankan Lions: Upul Tharanga (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Milinda Siriwardane, Thisara Perera (C), Chaturanga de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis, Vikum Sanjaya, Thilan Thushara, Malintha Pushpakumara
Afghanistan Pathans: Mohammad Shahzad (C & wk), Shoaib Khan, Shabir Noori, Asghar Afghan, Munir Kakar, Samiullah Shinwari, Rokhan Barekzai, Khalid Khan Sangarkhil, Sahejad Pathan, Batin Shah, Zahid Shirzad
Sri Lankan Lions vs Afghanistan Pathans Match Prediction
Sri Lankan Lions are the favourites to win the match because of their squad strength and overall success ratio in international cricket.
In the previous season, Sri Lankan Lions knocked out Afghanistan Pathans from the tournament. In four matches, the Lankans claimed wins twice over the Afghans, with a couple of matches with no result.
Assessing both of the teams' overall squad strength and head-to-head stats, Sri Lankan Lions are the clear favourites to win the opener of the Asian Legends League 2026.
