Cricket News

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka – Asia Cup Final – Match preview, pitch report and team news

Sri Lanka have won five Asia Cup titles and Pakistan have won two.

Sep 10, 2022 4:39 pm

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will lock horns again, and this time it will be for the Asia Cup trophy, which is the big prize that both teams will have their eyes on. The two teams last met in an Asia Cup final way back in 2014. The way the teams were then and how they are now is very different. Sri Lanka will be looking for a sixth Asia Cup title, whereas Pakistan will want to get Asia Cup title number three in their trophy cabinet.

Team news

Sri Lanka

The team has been on a role and will want to take confidence from beating Pakistan in their last meeting which was the last match in the Asia Cup Super 4 stage. Dananjaya De Silva and Pramod Madhushan were drafted into the side for yesterday’s game, and they did not disappoint. While Madhushan had a great spell on debut, picking up 2 wickets, Dananjaya de Silva filled the part-time bowlers’ slot to perfection and picked up a wicket for just 18 runs in his four-over spell.

Pakistan

Their batting did not click in the last game against Sri Lanka, and they struggled to build a big partnership. Their spin department too looked weak in the absence of wrist spinner Shahdab Khan, who, in all probability, should play the final. Naseem Shah, who was rested as well, should slot back in too. The biggest strength of Pakistan has been their pace bowlers, who have breathed fire throughout the Asia Cup and will want to do the same on the day of the big final.

Players to Watch out for

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka- In the last two innings that he has played, he has been churning the runs and providing quickfire starts for Sri Lanka. He will look to do it again on finals day.

Dilshan Madhushanka- He has impressed with his pace, accuracy and variations. He has been good with the new ball for Sri Lanka. He will look to be amongst wickets and pose a threat to the Pakistan batters.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa- The big-hitting batter in the Sri Lankan middle order is due for a big score. He will be hoping that he delivers a game-changing performance with the bat on the day of the final.

Pakistan

Naseem Shah- His pace and variations are his strength. He will look to knock the Sri Lankan batters early whatever be the state of the match. His newly found batting skills will serve Pakistan well too.

Harris Rauf – The tearaway quick will look to continue bowling thunderbolts at 140 kmph and keep maintaining a consistent line and length to cause trouble to the batters.

Babar Azam- He looked in good touch in the last game against Sri Lanka and will want to get a big score under his belt and try and end Asia Cup 2022 on a high.

Probable Playing XI

Sri Lanka

1 Kusal Mendis (wk), 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Danushka Gunathilaka, 5 Dasun Shanaka (capt,), 6 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 7 Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Pramod Madhushan, 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan

1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2 Babar Azam (capt), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Iftikhar Ahmed, 5 Khushdil Shah, 6 Asif Ali, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Shadab Khan 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad Hasnain

Pitch Report

Throughout the Asia Cup, the Dubai pitch has favoured the team batting second, with dew forming in the second innings which has caused trouble to the bowlers. The seamers will get more out of the pitch.