Dubai: The final of the Asia Cup Twenty20 cricket will be held today. Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the match starting at 7.30 pm. Teams are concerned that the weather will be hot and dry throughout the tournament.
This is the fourth time that Pakistan and Lanka will meet in the Asia Cup final. Both recorded two wins each. In terms of numbers, Pakistan has the upper hand in Twenty20 once morest Sri Lanka. So far, both have faced each other in 22 games. Pakistan won 13 of them. Lanka won in nine matches. Although Pakistan is ahead in the numbers, both have equal chances in the final.
The impressive win once morest Pakistan in the Super Four boosted their confidence. Sri Lanka lost to Afghanistan by eight wickets in the opening match and no one expected them to enter the final. They bounced back strongly with a thrilling two-wicket win once morest Bangladesh. Sri Lankan battle was seen in the Super Four. Both India and Pakistan, the current champions, lost in front of Lanka. Lanka beat Afghanistan by four wickets and India by six wickets. They beat Pakistan by five wickets in the last game to become the first place. Pakistan has not been a consistent performer in the tournament. The team led by Babar Azam entered the finals with flying colors. India lost the first game by five wickets. Pak team reached the Super Four with a 155-run victory in the crucial match once morest Hong Kong. Beating India in the Super Four was a huge achievement. Pakistan defeated India by five wickets in the first match of the Super Four. A dramatic one-wicket win once morest Afghanistan. Pak team won from the brink of defeat. In the last game they lost to Lanka by five wickets. Lanka won by five wickets in the last match of the Asia Cup Twenty20 Cricket Super Four. Batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for 121 runs. Sri Lanka batted in reply and scored the winning run with three overs to spare.
Opener and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwanilan hopes for Pakistan. Rizwan is second among the run chasers with 226 runs from five matches including two fifties. If the captain Babar Azam, who has disappointed with the batting in all the previous matches, also returns to form, Pakistan’s chances of victory will increase. Spinner Mohammad Nawaz who took eight wickets and Shadab Khan who took seven wickets are the stars of the bowling.
Opener Pathum Nisanka scored the most runs in batting for Lanka (165 runs). Opening partner Kushal Mendis also scored 155 runs. Dilshan Madhushanka, who took six wickets in bowling, is in the lead. Pacer Harris Rauf is all set to complete 50 wickets in Twenty20. Rauf will complete 50 if he takes three wickets today. Sri Lanka and Pak teams may not change the starting XI.
Probable Squad: Pakistan – Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.
Probable Team: Sri Lanka – Kushal Mendis, Pathum Nisanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dhanushka Gunathilake, Dasun Sanaka (captain), Bhanuka Rajapakse, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranka, Mahisha Thikshna, Pramod Madhushan, Dilshan Madhushanaka.
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