ACC Men's Asia Cup Archives

Sri Lanka edge Pakistan to reach Asia Cup 2023 final

COLOMBO: Charith Asalanka displayed nerves of steel to power Sri Lanka into the Asia Cup 2023 final with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan.

SL 252/8 (42 Overs)

Zaman Khan bowls the final over

SL 244/7 (41 Overs)

Shaheen bowls the penultimate over

SL 240/5 (40 Overs)

Zaman comes to bowl

SL 232/5 (39 Overs)

Shaheen continues

SL 224/5 (38 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

SL 219/4 (37 Overs)

Shaheen returns

SL 216/4 (36 Overs)

Iftikhar again

SL 210/3 (35 Overs)

Shadab bowls his last

SL 208/3 (34 Overs)

Iftikhar bowls

SL 196/3 (33 Overs)

Shadab replaces Zaman

SL 194/3 (32 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

SL 187/3 (31 Overs)

Zaman comes back

SL 179/3 (30 Overs)

Iftikhar replaces Shaheen

SL 175/2 (29 Overs)

Shadab continues

SL 167/2 (28 Overs)

Shaheen continues

SL 160/2 (27 Overs)

Shadab replaces Nawaz

SL 154/2 (26 Overs)

Shaheen comes back

SL 149/2 (25 Overs)

Nawaz continues

SL 145/2 (24 Overs)

Iftikhar again

SL 139/2 (23 Overs)

Nawaz replaces Wasim Jr

SL 134/2 (22 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

SL 132/2 (21 Overs)

Wasim Jr continues

SL 124/2 (20 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed into the attack

SL 116/2 (19 Overs)

Wasim Jr returns

SL 111/2 (18 Overs)

Shadab bowls from Khettarama End

SL 97/2 (17 Overs)

Nawaz again

SL 96/2 (16 Overs)

Shadab continues

SL 89/2 (15 Overs)

Nawaz continues to bowl

SL 83/2 (14 Overs)

Shadab bowls

SL 77/1 (13 Overs)

Nawaz bowls his third

SL 70/1 (12 Overs)

Shadab continues

SL 65/1 (11 Overs)

Nawaz continues

SL 62/1 (10 Overs)

More spin as Shadab Khan comes on

SL 57/1 (9 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz into the attack now

SL 56/1 (8 Overs)

Mohammad Wasim Jr comes into the attack

SL 43/1 (7 Overs)

Shaheen bowls from Maligawatte End

SL 36/1 (6 Overs)

Zaman again

SL 32/1 (5 Overs)

Shaheen bowls

SL 28/1 (4 Overs)

3.2: Kusal chops this square on the offside and hesitates as Nissanka calls for the quick single. Shadab Khan comes haring in, picks it up and hits the timber at the non-striker’s end.

Zaman continues

SL 16/0 (3 Overs)

Shaheen continues

SL 11/0 (2 Overs)

Zaman Khan to bowl from the other end

SL 11/0 (1 Over)

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera come out to open for Sri Lanka. Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs SRI LANKA (2nd INNINGS)

COLOMBO: Mohammad Rizwan played a sensible 86-run knock and guided Pakistan to 252/7 in the must-win Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

PAK 252/7 (42 Overs)

Madushan bowls the final over

PAK 242/6 (41 Overs)

Pathirana bowls

PAK 235/5 (40 Overs)

Madushan comes back

PAK 221/5 (39 Overs)

Theekshana bowls his last

PAK 209/5 (38 Overs)

Pathirana continues

PAK 197/5 (37 Overs)

Theekshana continues

PAK 192/5 (36 Overs)

Pathirana comes back

PAK 184/5 (35 Overs)

Theekshana replaced Madushan

PAK 178/5 (34 Overs)

Wellalage to bowl his last

PAK 168/5 (33 Overs)

Madushan replaces de Silva

PAK 150/5 (32 Overs)

Wellalage continues

PAK 145/5 (31 Overs)

Dhananjaya bowls

PAK 138/5 (30 Overs)

Wellalage returns

PAK 135/5 (29 Overs)

Dhananjaya continues

PAK 133/5 (28 Overs)

Theekshana continues his over

The covers are off. The game has been reduced to 42 overs. There will be a 20-minute innings break, while the Powerplays will be in overs 9, 25 and 8. Three bowlers will be able to bowl eight overs, while two bowlers can bowl up to nine overs.

Rain halts the action

PAK 130/5 (27.4 Overs)

Theekshana replaces Pathirana

PAK 128/4 (27 Overs)

Dhananjaya de Silva bowls

PAK 122/4 (26 Overs)

Pathirana again

PAK 109/4 (25 Overs)

Dhananjaya de Silva again

PAK 108/4 (24 Overs)

Pathirana continues

PAK 103/3 (23 Overs)

Dhananjaya de Silva continues

PAK 100/3 (22 Overs)

21.4: This was dug in short on off, Shafique goes for the pull but only manages to top edge straight to the man at deep square leg.

Pathirana replaces Wellalage

PAK 97/2 (21 Overs)

Dhananjaya de Silva into the attack

PAK 88/2 (20 Overs)

Wellalaga bowls again

PAK 86/2 (19 Overs)

Theekshana bowls

PAK 83/2 (18 Overs)

Wellalage again

PAK 75/2 (17 Overs)

Theekshana continues

PAK 73/2 (16 Overs)

15.6: Wellalage tosses it up around off stump. Babar strides forward but the ball pitches and turns away and Mendis flicks off the bails in a jiffy.

Wellalage replaces Pathirana

PAK 72/1 (15 Overs)

Theekshana replaces Wellalage

PAK 68/1 (14 Overs)

Pathirana continues

PAK 58/1 (13 Overs)

Wellalage again

PAK 56/1 (12 Overs)

Matheesha Pathirana into the attack

PAK 48/1 (11 Overs)

Wellalage continues

PAK 40/1 (10 Overs)

Shanaka again

PAK 36/1 (9 Overs)

Dunith Wellalage comes into the attack

PAK 35/1 (8 Overs)

Shanaka continues

PAK 27/1 (7 Overs)

Madushan continues to bowl

PAK 19/1 (6 Overs)

Dasun Shanaka comes into the attack

PAK 13/1 (5 Overs)

Madushan again

PAK 9/0 (4 Overs)

Theekshana continues from the other end

PAK 6/0 (3 Overs)

Madushan continues

PAK 2/0 (2 Overs)

Maheesh Theekshana to bowl from the other end

PAK 0/0 (1 Over)

Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman come out to open the innings. Pramod Madushan to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs SRI LANKA (1st INNINGS)

COLOMBO: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the eleventh match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan make two changes to their already-announced Playing XI as Imam-ul-Haq has a back spasm and back in comes Fakhar Zaman. Saud Shakeel has a fever, in comes Abdullah Shafique. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Perera and Pramod Madushan are in.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdullah Shafique, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Zaman Khan.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 155, Pakistan 92, Sri Lanka 58, NR 4, Tie 1

Asia Cup ODI: Matches 15, Pakistan 4, Sri Lanka 11

READ: Pakistan, India set for rematch but rain threat persists despite reserve day

Asia Cup 2023: Haris Rauf ruled out of PAK vs IND clash

COLOMBO: Fast bowler Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the PAK vs IND clash of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

“Haris Rauf will not be bowling any further in the Asia Cup Super 4 match against India as a precautionary measure. He felt a little discomfort in his right flank during the match yesterday,” the PCB said in a brief statement.

“He was subsequently taken for a precautionary MRI, which revealed no tear. He is under the observation of the team’s medical panel.”

Haris Rauf gave away 27 runs in his five wicketless overs against India yesterday before rain played spoilsport.

The highly-anticipated PAK vs IND clash was postponed yesterday to the reserve day after persistent rain denied play on Sunday.

When the rain intervened, India had raced to 147/2 in 24.1 overs with KL Rahul (17*) and Virat Kohli (8*) at the crease. They will resume India’s first innings today.

Earlier, after being put into bat first in the high-octane PAK vs IND clash, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a flying start with a magnificent 121-run partnership.

The pair dominated Pakistan’s bowling attack including their pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.

Both Gill and Sharma, who struggled against the trio in the previous PAK vs IND clash on September 2, made a sensational comeback.

The duo frustrated Pakistan bowlers before Shadab Khan finally struck in his third over, removing Sharma, soon after he amassed his half-century.

Rohit Sharma smashed six boundaries and four sixes on his way to a brisk 49-ball 56.

Gill, on the other hand, soon followed the footsteps of his captain and walked back to the pavilion in the next over after being outdone by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s slower delivery.

He scored a 52-ball 58 which featured 10 boundaries.

Following the back-to-back blows, star batter Virat Kohli and returning KL Rahul batted cautiously amid their unbeaten 24-run partnership for the third wicket before rain interrupted the PAK vs IND clash.

After the dark clouds scattered and the rain finally decided to ease out, the umpires carried out several field inspections and opted not to resume the action due to a wet outfield.

Sri Lankan groundsmen made desperate efforts to dry out the wet areas by using sponges and fans and when they apparently got the situation under control, rain returned and eventually forced the match to be decided on the reserve day.

READ: New Zealand unveil squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023

Kohli, Rahul tons propel India to thrash Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023

COLOMBO: Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s unbeaten centuries, followed by Kuldeep Yadav’s five-fer led India to a massive 228-run victory over Pakistan in the high-octane PAK vs IND clash of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 on Monday.

PAK 128 (32 Overs)

Kuldeep continues

PAK 121/7 (31 Overs)

Thakur replaces Jadeja

PAK 119/7 (30 Overs)

Kuldeep bowls

PAK 115/6 (29 Overs)

Jadeja continues from the other end

PAK 111/6 (28 Overs)

Kuldeep again

PAK 108/5 (27 Overs)

Jadeja continues

PAK 104/5 (26 Overs)

Kuldeep continues

PAK 101/5 (25 Overs)

Jadeja bowls his third

PAK 96/5 (24 Overs)

Kuldeep bowls

PAK 93/4 (23 Overs)

Jadeja continues

PAK 84/4 (22 Overs)

Kuldeep bowls again

PAK 83/4 (21 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack

PAK 79/4 (20 Overs)

Kuldeep continues

PAK 77/3 (19 Overs)

Hardik continues

PAK 71/3 (18 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack

PAK 69/3 (17 Overs)

Hardik continues to bowl

PAK 68/3 (16 Overs)

Thakur again

PAK 65/3 (15 Overs)

Hardik again

PAK 56/3 (14 Overs)

Thakur continues

PAK 48/3 (13 Overs)

Pandya continues

PAK 47/3 (12 Overs)

Shardul Thakur to bowl

Indian players ran onto the field immediately after the covers being taken off. Pakistan to resume their run chase with no overs deduction.

Rain interrupts play

PAK 44/2 (11 Overs)

10.4: Hardik cuts Babar in half with a ball that jags in sharply from the outside off to rattle the top of the stump.

Hardik Pandya comes into the attack

PAK 43/1 (10 Overs)

Siraj continues

PAK 38/1 (9 Overs)

Bumrah continues to bowl

PAK 30/1 (8 Overs)

Siraj continues

PAK 21/1 (7 Overs)

Bumrah continues

PAK 20/1 (6 Overs)

Siraj continues from the other end

PAK 17/1 (5 Overs)

4.2: Another full delivery, angling in, tricks Imam into playing but took the inside edge and is caught by Gill at the second slip.

Bumrah continues

PAK 17/0 (4 Overs)

Siraj continues

PAK 15/0 (3 Overs)

Bumrah continues

PAK 11/0 (2 Overs)

Mohammed Siraj to bowl from the other end

PAK 5/0 (1 Over)

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq come out to open the innings for Pakistan. Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (2nd INNINGS)

COLOMBO: Star batter Virat Kohli and returning KL Rahul scored magnificent centuries and powered India to a mammoth 356/2 in the PAK vs IND clash of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 against Pakistan.

IND 356/2 (50 Overs)

Faheem bowls the final over

IND 338/2 (49 Overs)

48.2: Naseem Shah goes off the field holding his palm/wrist. Iftikhar Ahmed to complete the over.

Naseem bowls his last

IND 330/2 (48 Overs)

Shaheen bowls his last

IND 319/2 (47 Overs)

Naseem bowls his ninth

IND 307/2 (46 Overs)

Shaheen comes back

IND 300/2 (45 Overs)

Faheem replaces Iftikhar

IND 286/2 (44 Overs)

Naseem replaces Shaheen

IND 280/2 (43 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

IND 264/2 (42 Overs)

Shaheen comes back

IND 255/2 (41 Overs)

Iftikhar returns

IND 251/2 (40 Overs)

Faheem bowls his eighth

IND 243/2 (39 Overs)

Shadab comes to bowl again

IND 237/2 (38 Overs)

Faheem comes to bowl

IND 231/2 (37 Overs)

Shadab resumes

IND 228/2 (36 Overs)

Faheem again

IND 225/2 (35 Overs)

Shadab comes back

IND 211/2 (34 Overs)

Faheem returns

IND 204/2 (33 Overs)

Iftikhar again

IND 193/2 (32 Overs)

Shaheen continues

IND 186/2 (31 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

IND 175/2 (30 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi replaces Naseem Shah from the other end

IND 167/2 (29 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed replaces Faheem Ashraf

IND 163/2 (28 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues

IND 155/2 (27 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Shadab Khan

IND 152/2 (26 Overs)

Naseem Shah to bowl from the other end

IND 150/2 (25 Overs)

Match resumes on Reserve Day

COLOMBO: The highly-anticipated PAK vs IND clash of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 has been postponed to the reserve day on Monday, due to persistent rain, followed by a wet outfield here.

Rain interrupts play

IND 146/2 (24.1 Overs)

Shadab continues

IND 146/2 (24 Overs)

Haris continues

IND 140/2 (23 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

IND 140/2 (22 Overs)

Haris Rauf replaces Shaheen Afridi at Khettarama end

IND 137/2 (21 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

IND 135/2 (20 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

IND 131/2 (19 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

IND 124/2 (18 Overs)

17.5: Shubman Gill gets forward to drive but he’s caught at cover by Shadab Khan

Shaheen Afridi returns to the attack from Khettarama end

IND 122/1 (17 Overs)

16.4: Rohit Sharma presses forward and tries to chip it over long off, but he gets caught by Faheem Ashraf

Shadab Khan continues from Maligawatte end

IND 118/0 (16 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

IND 115/0 (15 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

IND 103/0 (14 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

IND 96/0 (13 Overs)

Shadab Khan comes into the attack

IND 77/0 (12 Overs)

Haris Rauf replaces Naseem Shah

IND 69/0 (11 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf continues

IND 61/0 (10 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues

IND 53/0 (9 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf continues

IND 46/0 (8 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues

IND 38/0 (7 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Shaheen Afridi

IND 37/0 (6 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues

IND 37/0 (5 Overs)

Shaheen continues

IND 24/0 (4 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues

IND 23/0 (3 Overs)

Shaheen continues from the other end

IND 11/0 (2 Overs)

Naseem Shah to bowl from the other end

IND 6/0 (1 Over)

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill come out to open for India.

Shaheen Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (1st INNINGS)

COLOMBO: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in the ninth match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 133, India 55, Pakistan 73, NR 5

Asia Cup ODI: Matches 14, India 7, Pakistan 5, NR 2

READ: Pakistan, India set for rematch but rain threat persists despite reserve day

Sri Lanka edge Bangladesh to register first Super 4s win in Asia Cup 2023

COLOMBO: Sadeera Samarawickrama’s blistering 93-run knock, followed by a combined bowling effort led Sri Lanka to a 21-run victory over Bangladesh in the eighth match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday.

Set to chase 258, Bangladesh could accumulate 236 runs before being bundled out in the penultimate over despite Towhid Hridoys’s gutsy 82.

Bangladesh openers Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim laid a solid foundation for the run chase with a brisk 55-run partnership but Dasun Shanaka struck twice in his successive overs to script Sri Lanka’s comeback as Bangladesh slipped to 60/2.

Miraz scored a 29-ball 28 while Naim played a cautious 21-run knock in 46 deliveries.

Bangladesh then coped two more blows to their run chase after experienced batter Litton Das (15) and skipper Shakib Al Hasan (3) perished cheaply.

With the visitors reeling at 83/4 in 18.5 overs, Hridoy put together an anchoring 72-run partnership with wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim.

The pair had stabilized Bangladesh’s innings before Dasun Shanaka once again drew an important breakthrough, dismissing Mushfiqur in the 38th over. He scored 29 off 48 balls.

Hridoy then stitched brief partnerships with Shamim Hossain and Nasum Ahmed before finally perishing in the 44th over when Bangladesh needed a further 61 runs.

Towhid Hridoy remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh in their must-win Asia Cup 2023 fixture with a 97-ball 82 which featured seven boundaries and a six.

Following his dismissal, Nasum and Hasan Mahmud kept Bangladesh in the hunt by scoring valuable runs at the backend but their heroics were not enough to guide their side to glory.

Nasum scored a run-a-ball 15 while Mahmud scored 10 not out off seven deliveries.

For Sri Lanka, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana bagged three wickets each while Dunith Wellalage made one scalp.

The 21-run victory over Bangladesh not only marked Sri Lanka’s first win in the Super 4s stage of the Asia Cup 2023 but also extended their unbeaten streak in the ODIs.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, are now on the verge of elimination and would need a miracle to make it to the final.

Put into bat first, Sri Lanka managed to put a commendable total on the board, courtesy of Sadeera Samarawickrama’s late fireworks and Kusal Mendis’s anchoring half-century.

The home side had a shaky start to their innings as they lost their opener Dimuth Karunaratne (18) cheaply with 34 runs on the board in 5.3 overs.

Mendis then joined opening batter Pathum Nissanka in the middle and the pair anchored the innings with a sensible 74-run partnership which lasted with Nissanka’s dismissal in the 24th over.

Nissanka fell 10 runs short of his half-century, scoring 40 off 50 deliveries and hit five boundaries.

Mendis also followed Nissanka back to the hut two overs later as Sri Lanka slipped to 117/3 in 26 overs.

Sri Lanka then lost two more wickets in quick successions as Charith Asalanka (10) and Dhananjaya de Silva (six) walked back after making modest contributions.

With the home side reeling at 164/5 in the 38th over, Sadeera Samarawickrama was joined by his captain Dasun Shanaka and the pair scripted an astounding recovery by knitting a crucial 60-run partnership.

The duo frustrated Bangladesh bowlers in their must-win Asia Cup 2023 game by scoring at a rapid pace before young pacer Hasan Mahmud provided a much-needed breakthrough in the form of Shanaka’s dismissal.

The Sri Lankan captain scored a cautious 32-ball 24, which featured a boundary.

Following his dismissal, Samarawickrama stood his ground firm and ticked the scoreboard single-handedly while losing partners at the other end before finally perishing on the final delivery of the innings, seven short of his well-deserved century.

Sadeera Samarawickrama smashed eight boundaries and two sixes on his way to top score for Sri Lanka with a 72-ball 93.

Right-arm pacers Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed led the bowling attack for Bangladesh in their must-win Asia Cup 2023 fixture with three wickets each, followed by Shoriful Islam’s two.

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan name Playing XI for blockbuster India clash

Shaheen Afridi says ‘best is yet to come’

Pakistan pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi has warned his devastating spell against arch-rivals India that set the Asia Cup alight is just the start, with the World Cup 2023 only weeks away.

The left-arm fast bowler rattled the Indian top-order in their Group A clash last week, taking 4-35 — including the wickets of star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

That match was washed out but they meet again in Colombo on Sunday in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, a precursor to the 50-over World Cup that kicks off next month.

And Shaheen Afridi told AFP there is more to come.

“Every match against India is special and people watch this a lot,” the 23-year-old said Friday. “I used to wait for this match as a fan before I played under-16 cricket.”

“I can’t say this has been my best spell so far. This is just the start and there will be many more, so the best is yet to come.”

With his ability to move the ball both ways, Shaheen leads one of the most potent pace attacks in the world.

“If you play all the three formats at such a young age for Pakistan and handle the new ball, people expect you to perform like that,” he said.

Shaheen and his fellow fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf have picked up 23 wickets between them in the Asia Cup so far.

“We know our roles with the new and old ball,” Shaheen said.

“Haris is quicker than us and impacts with his pace. Naseem and I try to get early breakthroughs.”

The “communication is good between us,” he added. “And that’s our success.”

Shaheen, who stands at 6 feet and 6 inches (1.98 metres), suffered a serious knee injury last year but returned strongly in Sri Lanka in July.

“It’s your match time that helps you improve. These Test matches against Sri Lanka recently made me improve as I bowled long spells and fielded all day,” said Shaheen, who has 105 wickets in 27 Tests.

“So that cleared all doubts about the knee injury.”

Shaheen Afridi has never played cricket in India — bilateral cricket ties are frozen because of political tensions between the neighbours.

He is keen to do well when Pakistan take on hosts India in the hotly anticipated World Cup match in Ahmedabad on October 14.

“All the foreign players who have played in the IPL (Indian Premier League), we had discussions with them. I think our Pakistan wickets or Dubai pitches will be similar,” he said.

“Spinners will get more help, maybe. We will hit good lengths. Our team performance is going well as the number one (ODI) team. We have prepared well.”

Shaheen Afridi is married to one of the daughters of former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, and said he speaks to the former all-rounder before every big match.

“I try to pick his brains before a big game and include it in my plans as he was a big-match player,” said Shaheen.

“He talks simply and says: ‘Just play your cricket’.”

A fan of legendary Pakistani left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram, Shaheen Afridi said he keeps his focus on the field by avoiding cricket off it.

“I don’t go out much and stay in my room. Just stay indoors, make green tea… and talk about anything other than cricket,” he said.

“That keeps me relaxed.”

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam believes Pakistan has an ‘edge’ over India

Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam believes Pakistan has an ‘edge’ over India

COLOMBO: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said on Saturday that his side will have an edge over India in their Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash, with a bowling line-up ready to win matches and tournaments.

The arch-rivals meet again in Colombo on Sunday after their Asia Cup 2023 group match was abandoned due to rain, which has played havoc with the 50-over tournament that is a precursor to the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.

Pakistan won their opening match of the Asia Cup’s Super 4 stage and a second win will further enhance their chances of making the final on September 17.

But rain in the Sri Lankan capital is expected to play spoilsport again in the match, for which a reserve day has been kept aside.

“You can say we have the edge as we have played back-to-back cricket here (in Sri Lanka) and in Pakistan,” Azam told reporters.

“It has been two-and-a-half months in Sri Lanka including the Test series, Lanka Premier League, Afghanistan series and now the Asia Cup.

“So you can say it will be advantage (for us).”

Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf have stood out with 23 wickets between them and played a key role in the team’s performance so far.

Shaheen, a left-arm quick who leads the bowling, rattled India with his opening burst in the Asia Cup 2023 group match, taking the key wickets of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Azam said the team believes their bowlers can win them titles.

“Proud to have the fast bowlers that we have. One of the best (in the world),” said Azam.

“Fast bowlers win you tournaments and matches and I have total belief (in) them. The line-up that we have including Naseem and Faheem (Ashraf) is the best lot that we have. They have the belief and how they bowl in partnerships.”

READ: Pakistan’s Ahsan Raza named among ICC World Cup 2023 umpires

Asia Cup 2023: Bangladesh win toss, elect to bowl first against Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the eighth match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain Patwary, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Matches-52,Sri Lanka-41, Bangladesh-9, NR-2

Asia Cup ODI: Matches-16,Sri Lanka-13, Bangladesh-3

READ: Conway, Mitchell tons power New Zealand to thump England in ODI opener

Pakistan sink Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s

LAHORE: Haris Rauf’s four-fer, followed by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan’s half-centuries powered Pakistan to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture on Wednesday.

PAK 194/3 (39.3 Overs)

Shakib continues

PAK 188/3 (39 Overs)

Shamim Hossein now

PAK 180/3 (38 Overs)

Shakib continues

PAK 173/3 (37 Overs)

Mehidy bowls his last

PAK 168/3 (36 Overs)

Shakib comes back

PAK 167/3 (35 Overs)

Mehidy bowls his ninth

PAK 165/3 (34 Overs)

Hasan continues

PAK 159/3 (33 Overs)

Mehidy continues

PAK 148/2 (32 Overs)

Hasan Mahmud back in the attack

PAK 147/2 (31 Overs)

Mehidy again

PAK 142/2 (30 Overs)

Shakib continues to bowl

PAK 139/2 (29 Overs)

Mehidy continues to bowl

PAK 132/2 (28 Overs)

Shakib continues

PAK 123/2 (27 Overs)

Mehidy bowls again

PAK 120/2 (26 Overs)

Shakib Al Hasan comes into the attack

PAK 114/2 (25 Overs)

Mehidy continues

PAK 105/2 (24 Overs)

Shoriful continues

PAK 102/2 (23 Overs)

Mehidy bowls

PAK 96/2 (22 Overs)

Shoriful comes back

PAK 93/2 (21 Overs)

Mehidy continues

PAK 90/2 (20 Overs)

Taskin bowls his eighth

PAK 89/2 (19 Overs)

Spin for the first time this innings. as Mehidy comes from around.

PAK 88/2 (18 Overs)

Taskin again

PAK 85/2 (17 Overs)

Hasan bowls again

PAK 74/2 (16 Overs)

15.3: A fuller delivery just outside off and kept low, Babar was late to react and only managed the toe-end of his bat and the ball disturbs the timber.

Taskin continues

PAK 74/1 (15 Overs)

Hasan continues to bowl

PAK 59/1 (14 Overs)

Taskin returns

PAK 57/1 (13 Overs)

Hasan continues

PAK 52/1 (12 Overs)

Shoriful continues his opening spell

PAK 44/1 (11 Overs)

Hasan continues

PAK 37/1 (10 Overs)

9.1: Length ball on off angles in and Fakhar looks to flick but is beaten on the inside edge. And that’s crashing into leg-stump

Shoriful continues for his fifth

PAK 35/0 (9 Overs)

Hasan Mahmud comes into the attack

PAK 34/0 (8 Overs)

Shoriful again

PAK 33/0 (7 Overs)

Taskin bowls his fourth

PAK 21/0 (6 Overs)

Shoriful continues to bowl

PAK 15/0 (5 Overs)

Taskin again

PAK 12/0 (4 Overs)

Shoriful continues

PAK 11/0 (3 Overs)

Taskin continues

PAK 11/0 (2 Overs)

Shoriful Islam to bowl from the other end

PAK 8/0 (1 Over)

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq come out to open for Pakistan. Taskin Ahmed to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs BANGLADESH (2nd INNINGS)

LAHORE: Haris Rauf’s four-fer powered Pakistan to bowl out Bangladesh on a meagre 193 in the first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture on Wednesday.

BAN 193 (38.4 Overs)

38.4: Full on middle. Shoriful backs away and looks to drive it on the off side but misses completely and the ball thuds into the stumps.

38.1: Naseem bowls short and Afif goes for a pull. Takes a top edge and goes high in front and Faheem Ashraf runs across from mid-on to take that.

Naseem returns

BAN 192/8 (38 Overs)

37.3: Two in two for Haris Rauf! Length ball outside off, angling in. Taskin looks to drive and only manages a thin edge. Regulation take for Rizwan.

37.2: Mushfiqur looks to give charge to a length delivery outside off that was seaming away. Gets an edge that Rizwan grabs.

Haris comes back

BAN 190/6 (37 Overs)

Iftikhar continues to bowl

BAN 182/6 (36 Overs)

Shaheen continues

BAN 176/6 (35 Overs)

34.4: Iftikhar bowled short and quicker. Shamim went hard with his attempted swing across the line but ended up getting a top edge for a reverse-cup catch for Imam.

Iftikhar continues

BAN 174/5 (34 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi returns

BAN 163/5 (33 Overs)

Iftikhar bowls again

BAN 160/5 (32 Overs)

Faheem bowls

BAN 152/5 (31 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

BAN 150/5 (30 Overs)

29.1: Short of a length on middle, getting it to angle across to finish on off stump. Shakib went for the pull but found the fielder.

Faheem Ashraf continues

BAN 147/4 (29 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed comes into the attack

BAN 142/4 (28 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Salman Ali Agha

BAN 139/4 (27 Overs)

Shadab continues to bowl from the other end

BAN 131/4 (26 Overs)

Salman Ali Agha comes into the attack

BAN 120/4 (25 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 116/4 (24 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

BAN 114/4 (23 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 111/4 (22 Overs)

Haris Rauf replaces Naseem Shah

BAN 105/4 (21 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 99/4 (20 Overs)

Naseem continues

BAN 91/4 (19 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 87/4 (18 Overs)

Naseem Shah is back in the attack

BAN 83/4 (17 Overs)

Shadab continues

BAN 78/4 (16 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf continues

BAN 72/4 (15 Overs)

Shadab Khan comes into the attack

BAN 67/4 (14 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Haris Rauf on the other end

BAN 65/4 (13 Overs)

Shaheen replaces Faheem

BAN 58/4 (12 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

BAN 53/4 (11 Overs)

Faheem to continue

BAN 49/4 (10 Overs)

9.1: Towhid Hridoy bowled as a 145 kph delivery crashed into the stumps.

Haris Rauf continues

BAN 47/3 (9 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf replaces Shaheen

BAN 46/3 (8 Overs)

7.3: Naim tried to pull, but the rapid pace meant the ball took the top edge. Bowler moved to his left and took an easy catch

Haris Rauf replaces Naseem Shah

BAN 44/2 (7 Overs)

Shaheen continues to bowl

BAN 36/2 (6 Overs)

Naseem continues

BAN 31/2 (5 Overs)

4.5: There was movement and bounce, as Litton ended up fending to the keeper.

Shaheen Afridi continues

BAN 26/1 (4 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues from the other end

BAN 13/1 (3 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

BAN 4/1 (2 Overs)

1.1: Mehidy Hasan Miraz went for the clip, only to end up flicking to Fakhar at a comfortable height

Naseem Shah to bowl from the other end

BAN 0/0 (1 Over)

Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz come out to open for Bangladesh.

Shaheen Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs BANGLADESH (1st INNINGS)

LAHORE: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the seventh match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain Patwary, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Asia Cup ODI: Matches-14,Pakistan-12, Bangladesh-2

READ: Australia unveil squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023

Asia Cup 2023: Bangladesh win toss, elect to bat first against Pakistan

LAHORE: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the seventh match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Asia Cup ODI: Matches-14,Pakistan-12, Bangladesh-2

READ: Australia unveil squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023

Sri Lanka avoid Afghanistan scare to reach Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s

LAHORE: Sri Lankan bowlers held their nerves calm to deny Afghanistan a miraculous run chase and stormed into the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s.

Afghanistan had to chase down 292 in 37.1 overs to make it to the next round and they came within touching distance to pull off a sensational feat, courtesy of quickfire knocks by their middle-order.

Afghanistan needed three off one delivery to secure the Super 4s berth but Mujeeb Ur Rahman fired the ball off Dhananjaya de Silva straight to Sadeera Samarawickrama at long-on.

However, Afghanistan still had a chance to make it to the Super 4s if they got to 295 in 37.4 overs but Fazalhaq Farooqi, the number 11, seemed unaware of the equation as he blocked the next two deliveries off de Silva before falling on the third.

With two wickets in four deliveries, Dhananjaya de Silva snatched a narrow two-run victory from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan got off to a dismal start to their pursuit as they were two down for 27 in five overs after both openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (4) and Ibrahim Zadran (7) failed to score big.

Gulbadin Naib put on a brief partnership with Rahmat Shah before perishing in the ninth over to leave Afghanistan reeling at 50/3.

Rahmat was then joined by skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and the pair knitted an anchoring 71-run partnership to stop the flow of wickets.

Rahmat and Shahidi had anchored the run chase but the required run rate surged drastically in the process.

The dire need to score big got the better of Shah, who misread the slower bowl from Kasun Rajitha and ended up spooning to Pathirana, who took a low well-judged catch.

Rahmat scored 45 off 40 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and a six.

Coming out to bat at number six with Afghanistan at 121/4 in 18.4 overs, Mohammad Nabi turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting.

The experienced all-rounded thrashed Sri Lankan bowlers all around the ground to score the fastest half-century for Afghanistan in ODI cricket, taking just 24 deliveries.

His fifth-wicket partnership with Shahidi had pushed Sri Lanka to the backfoot but Maheesh Theekshana claimed the prized wicket of Nabi in the 27th over to draw a much-needed breakthrough for Sri Lanka.

Nabi remained the top-scorer for Afghanistan in the all-important Asia Cup 2023 fixture with a 32-ball 65 which featured six boundaries and five sixes.

Spirited Afghanistan seemed unhurt by Nabi’s dismissal as Karim Janat (22) and Hashmatullah Shahidi kept scoring rapidly before Dunith Wellalage removed both batters in the same over.

Shahidi scored an anchoring 59 off 66 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six.

Following back-to-back blows, Najibullah Zadran and Rashid Khan took the reigns of Afghanistan’s run chase and kept their side in the hunt with crucial cameos.

The pair added 39 runs at a rapid pace for the eighth wicket before Kasun Rajitha removed Zadran to pose a major dent to Afghanistan’s onslaught. Zadran scored 23 off 15 balls.

Rashid, who scored 12 runs off Dunith Wellalage in the 37th over to bring it down to three off one, remained not out with a 16-ball 27.

Kasun Rajitha led the bowling attack for Sri Lanka with 4/79, followed by Wellalage and de Silva taking two each while Matheesha Pathirana and Theekshana made one scalp each.

Sri Lanka got off to a flying start after winning the toss with an opening stand of 63 runs between Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne before Gulbadin Naib picked three wickets in quick succession to reduce Sri Lanka to 86-3.

Nissanka played a 41-run knock in 40 balls, featuring six boundaries, while Karunaratne scored 32 off 35, laced with as many boundaries.

Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka then knitted a 102-run partnership in 99 balls for the fourth wicket to recover from the loss of three quick wickets before Rashid Khan removed Asalanka to give Afghanistan a much-needed breakthrough.

Subsequently, Mendis went back to the pavilion, missing out on his hundred in an unfortunate fashion as the ball ricocheted off Rashid’s hands as he spilt Dasun Shanaka’s catch off his own bowling.

Mendis scored a brisk 92 off 84 balls, laced with six boundaries and three sixes.

Shanaka was removed two balls later as Rashid Khan castled him, reducing Sri Lanka to 227-7.

Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana then counter-attacked with a 64-run stand to lift Sri Lanka to finish at 291 in 50 overs.

Wellalage remained unbeaten at 33 off 39, while Maheesh Theekshan was bowled by Gulbadin Naib on the final ball of the innings after scoring 28 off 24.

Naib topped the bowling charts with figures of 4-60, while Rashid Khan contributed with two wickets.

Afghanistan is set to chase the total in 37 overs to qualify for the Super Four Stage of the Asia Cup 2023.

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