The second season of the Asian Legends League kicks off with much fanfare and fervour, with the Sri Lankan Lions set to take on Afghanistan Pathans in the opening game of the 2026 edition at the Lotus Sports Club Ground, Lusaka, Zambia, on Friday, July 30.

This clash is a repeat of the Eliminator of the 2025 season, where the Lions emerged victorious by 25 runs, successfully defending a total of 230 runs in their 20 overs. They were carried by a stunning 36-ball 108 by all-rounder Thisara Perera.

Both teams are boosted by a roster of legendary players who have turned games on their heads.

The Lions have a wealth of star players such as Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga, and Ajantha Mendis, while the Pathans are not short of experienced names, with the likes of Mohammad Shahzad, Hazratullah Zazai, and Asghar Afghan in their ranks.

SLLS vs AFGP: Match Details

Match	Sri Lankan Lions vs Afghanistan Pathans, Match 1, Asian Legends League 2026
Date and Time (IST)	Thursday, July 30, 2026, 3:30 PM (IST)
Venue	Lotus Sports Club Ground, Lusaka
Broadcast and Live-Streaming	FanCode (App & Website)

Lotus Sports Club Ground, Lusaka: Pitch Report

The pitch at the Lotus Sports Club Ground, Lusaka is expected to be of a balanced nature, aiding both batters and bowlers.

Batters will be able to play shots on the up while bowlers could get early purchase with the new ball. Due to this being an afternoon game, the effect of dew is expected to be negligible, while spinners could pose a threat if the surface becomes dry.

SLLS vs AFGP: Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played	02
Won By SLLS	02
Won By AFGP	00
No Result/Tied	00
First-ever Fixture	March 12, 2025
Most Recent Fixture	March 15, 2025

SLLS vs AFGP: Predicted Playing XIs Sri Lankan Lions

Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Danushka Gunathilaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Chaturanga de Silva.

Afghanistan Pathans

Mohammad Shahzad, Hazratullah Zazai, Shabir Noori, Asghar Afghan (C), Samiullah Shinwari, Riaz Hassan, Nijat Masood, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Waqarullah Ishaq, Wafadar Momand.

SLLS vs AFGP: Probable Best Performers of the Match Probable Best Batter: Thisara Perera

All-rounder Thisara Perera comes into this clash as the star man in the previous encounter between these two teams.

The southpaw scored a stellar unbeaten 108 off 36 balls when these two teams last met, hitting a whopping 13 sixes in his innings. He will be looking to continue the same form into the season and start with a big tournament.

Probable Best Bowler: Ajantha Mendis

Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis is expected to be a key player in this clash and will be expected to control the run-flow in the middle overs with his spin bowling. If there is grip and turn from the surface, Mendis could prove a major difference-maker.

Today's Match Prediction: Sri Lankan Lions to win the match