3 Reasons Why Afghanistan Lost to Sri Lanka in the 11th Match of T20 Asia Cup 2025

Afghanistan walked on to the Abu Dhabi strip with swagger and purpose, and for a moment it appeared that the visitors might build a competitive total; Mohammad Nabi’s late-innings 60 off 22 promised fireworks. However, Sri Lanka chased 170 down with eight balls to spare, and Afghanistan was left to sift through the wreckage, wondering why a promising night had turned ugly. Below are three concrete reasons Afghanistan fell short in Abu Dhabi.

Top-order collapse destroyed the platform

The early momentum of the match was changed in the power play when Nuwan Thushara tore through the Afghan batting order, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, and Sediqullah Atal to reduce Afghanistan to 40 for 3. While that early damage forced a middle-order consolidation rather than attack, the innings saw Ibrahim Zadran secure a stout 24 from 27 and a brief fight from Darwish Rasooli, but they showed no real intensity to accelerate the innings. By the time the late-firing Mohammad Nabi exploded, the game had been taken out of Afghanistan’s hands; 169 was an entirely defendable chase, but nothing daunting enough for Sri Lanka to have to take risks.

Kusal Mendis’s surgical, game-changing innings

The Sri Lankan run chase was expertly guided by Kusal Mendis, who remained not out on 74 off 52, combining calm assessment of the situation with aggression when the option was on. Mendis rotated the strike and punished anything loose, while maintaining the run-rate without ever looking like the scoreboard had frozen. Contributions from Kamindu Mendis earlier in the innings also set up shared partnerships at key points, while Afghanistan’s bowling attack failed to have a consistently effective Plan B. Fazalhaq Farooqi’s overs were expensive, Noor Ahmad found boundaries at key moments, and Rashid Khan could not be the kind of effective bowler Afghanistan needed when the required breakthroughs were called for.

Fielding errors and weak death bowling

Sri Lanka gained additional benefits from Afghanistan’s failure on the field and at the death. Fifteen wides inflated the chase, and a couple of misfields turned singles into doubles, thus shifting the momentum. A single run-out lifted spirits somewhat, but, in the end, this was either minor or incidental to generosity in the field. In the final overs, Afghanistan did not have the yorker accuracy, tactical variation, or discipline to choke runs, leaving Sri Lanka to chase more with calm rather than panic.

In short, Afghanistan did not just lose a single match, but instead were let down by a convergence of three issues: the early batting collapse that ruined their opportunity, Kusal Mendis playing calmly and confidently, as well as needless, non-challenging fielding and death bowling errors, which all handed Sri Lanka the initiative. Mohammad Nabi’s batting display kept the total respectable, but the balancing of eleven players in cricket is the winner.

FAQ

1. Why did Afghanistan lose to Sri Lanka in this match?

Afghanistan lost due to a top-order collapse, Kusal Mendis’s dominant innings, and weak death bowling with fielding errors.

2. Who was the standout performer for Sri Lanka?

Kusal Mendis was the star, scoring an unbeaten 74 off 52 balls to anchor the chase.

3. How did Mohammad Nabi perform for Afghanistan?

Nabi scored a quick 60 off 22 balls and took one key wicket, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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