DUBAI: Two former Asian champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka will collide within the last of the Asia Cup 2022 in a bid to increase their tally of titles and seal their supremacy within the continent.
Five-time champions Sri Lanka and two-time champions Pakistan have met thrice within the Asia Cup Final in 1986, 2000, and 2014 with Sri Lanka popping out on high twice, whereas Pakistan solely managed to win as soon as.
The two sides will meet once more within the Asia Cup last at present beneath the sheds of the glittering Dubai International Stadium after displaying an distinctive run within the group stage and Super Four.
Both sides had an undesirable begin to their Asia Cup 2022 marketing campaign as Sri Lanka misplaced to Afghanistan within the curtain-raiser on August 27, whereas Pakistan suffered a irritating defeat by the hands of their arch-rivals India, a day later.
The two sides then recollected themselves and received their respective group matches to make their method into the Super Four.
The subsequent stage of the event marked an astounding turnaround for each groups as Sri Lanka and Pakistan each received their first two matches towards India and Afghanistan to e-book their place within the last, forcing the latter two sides to crash out of the event.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka then met within the event’s final Super Four conflict on Friday in a Final rehearsal and the Islanders secured a snug five-wicket victory over the Green Shirts to hold on their successful momentum.
In the anticipated last, nevertheless, Pakistan will probably be seeking to bounce again from their Super Four defeat to finish their decade-long title drought, whereas Sri Lanka will probably be seeking to lengthen their tally to 6. India, however, received should variety of titles (7).
The Green Shirts will probably be taking the sphere with a revamped Playing XI as their key gamers Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan will rejoin the facet for the ultimate after resting within the Super Four conflict.
Pakistan have been majorly counting on their bowling division however will probably be hoping for his or her batting to fireplace on the massive stage together with their key batters Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Rizwan.
Sri Lanka, too, additionally rely closely on their spin bowling whereas their openers Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and captain Dasun Shanaka can play an important function within the group’s success.
HEAD TO HEAD (Asia Cup)
Matches-16, Sri Lanka-11, Pakistan-5