Tag: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

DUBAI: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against Sri Lanka in the much-anticipated final of the Asia Cup 2022.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan made two changes in the Playing XI as Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan replace Hasan Ali and Usman Qadir, while Sri Lanka remain unchanged.

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka.

HEAD TO HEAD (Asia Cup)

Matches-16, Sri Lanka-11, Pakistan-5

DUBAI: Two former Asian champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka will collide in the final of the Asia Cup 2022 in a bid to extend their tally of titles and seal their supremacy in the continent.

Five-time champions Sri Lanka and two-time champions Pakistan have met thrice in the Asia Cup Final in 1986, 2000, and 2014 with Sri Lanka coming out on top twice, while Pakistan only managed to win once.

The two sides will meet again in the Asia Cup final today under the sheds of the glittering Dubai International Stadium after displaying an exceptional run in the group stage and Super Four.

Both sides had an unwanted start to their Asia Cup 2022 campaign as Sri Lanka lost to Afghanistan in the curtain-raiser on August 27, while Pakistan suffered a frustrating defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals India, a day later.

The two sides then recollected themselves and won their respective group matches to make their way into the Super Four.

The next stage of the tournament marked an astounding turnaround for both teams as Sri Lanka and Pakistan both won their first two matches against India and Afghanistan to book their place in the final, forcing the latter two sides to crash out of the tournament.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka then met in the tournament’s last Super Four clash on Friday in a Final rehearsal and the Islanders secured a comfortable five-wicket victory over the Green Shirts to carry on their winning momentum.

In the anticipated final, however, Pakistan will be looking to bounce back from their Super Four defeat to end their decade-long title drought, while Sri Lanka will be looking to extend their tally to six. India, on the other hand, won must number of titles (7).
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The Green Shirts will be taking the field with a revamped Playing XI as their key players Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan will rejoin the side for the final after resting in the Super Four clash.

Pakistan have been majorly relying on their bowling department but will be hoping for their batting to fire on the big stage including their key batters Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Rizwan.

Sri Lanka, too, also rely heavily on their spin bowling while their openers Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and captain Dasun Shanaka can play a vital role in the team’s success.

HEAD TO HEAD (Asia Cup)

Matches-16, Sri Lanka-11, Pakistan-5

DUBAI: Pakistan’s former captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram declared the national team ‘favourites’ to lift the Asia Cup while he stressed that the Green Shirts should not take Sri Lanka lightly in the all-important final and learn from the experience of the previous game.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are set to lock horns against each other on Sunday in a bid to become Asian Champions as the enthralling continental tournament draws to an end.

Legendary cricketer, Wasim stated the national team’s batting was below average yet the fast bowling remained impressive in the final dress rehearsal as Sri Lanka comprehensively defeated Pakistan by five wickets on Friday.

“Pakistan’s performance has been phenomenal throughout the Asia Cup. Unfortunately,  our batting didn’t perform well in the last game against Sri Lanka, although our fast bowling was outstanding” he said. ” I hope the team will learn from its mistakes”

“Team’s middle order is struggling. After the dismissal of Babar Azam and Rizwan, they failed to perform due to pressure,” he added.

The 56-year-old claimed the Green Shirts to be his favourites for the final while saying that the young Sri Lankan could not be taken lightly.

Talking about Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s slump with the bat in the ongoing Asia Cup, the legendary pacer expressed optimism that the captain would regain his form in the final.

“Babar is a world-class player. He is in a bit of trouble these days. Let’s hope that he gives his best performance in the final” he concluded.

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DUBAI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed excitement for leading his side in the final of the Asia Cup 2022 and claimed the men in green are now just one step away from lifting the trophy.

Babar, in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released video, opined regarding leading the side in the final of the continental event, while also claiming that his team is keen to perform well and win the tournament.

“As a captain leading a side in a final, it is exciting,” Babar stated. “We are now just one step away from our goal of winning the trophy. Every captain and team, dreams of winning the trophy. As a team, our goal is to perform well and win the tournament.

The all-format captain heaped praises on his teammates, who stood up for the team and won matches for Pakistan in this year’s Asia Cup, while also claiming that it helps pave the path for future success for the team as well.

“Looking back at this tournament, we have had some great matches and some tough contests. We have seen some great performances and different players have shone and won Player of the match awards,” Babar stated.

“When building a team, it is great for us that different players have stood up when it counts and helped the team win matches. As a captain, this is important for me, and it helps pave the path for future success for the team as well,” he concluded.

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, on the other hand, is confident in his team to do well in the Asia Cup 2022 Final against Pakistan and asserted that this has been one of the best Asia Cups for Sri Lanka Cricket.

“As a team, we are very excited to play the final, and Pakistan is a very good team, all the matches have been nailbiters and we are looking forward to the final,” Shanaka stated.

“As a tournament looking back this has been one of the best Asia Cups we have had, and we are looking forward to the final,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan will lock horns with five-time Asia Cup champions, Sri Lanka, in this year’s final, scheduled on Sunday, in a bid to lift the trophy for the third time. Pakistan last won the title in 2012 under the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq.

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Pathum Nissanka shone with a powerful knock of unbeaten 55 off 48 to steer Sri Lanka towards a comfortable win over Pakistan by five wickets in Asia Cup Super Four stage encounter 

SL 124/5 (17 Over)

16.2: Shanaka gone. Slower ball does the trick and once again two Pakistan fielders nearly collide while taking a catch.

Hasnain to bowl his third over

SL 107/4 (16 Over)

Hasan Ali back into attack

SL 103/4 (15 Over)

Haris Rauf replaces Nawaz

SL 92/4 (14 Over)

Usman Qadir continues to bowl his last over

SL 87/4 (13 Over)

Nawaz to bowl his final over

SL 83/4 (12 Over)

11.3: Bhanuka Rajapaksa gone. The wristspinner breaks the 51-run partnership. Tosses it up, just outside off. Rajapaksa tries the slog sweep against the googly, but he’s only got the elevation.

Usman Qadir continues

SL 73/3 (11 Over)

Nawaz continues with his third

SL 68/3 (10 Over)

Usman continues

SL 57/3 (9 Over)

Nawaz continues

SL 53/3 (8 Over)

Usman Qadir joins Nawaz from the other end

SL 45/3 (7 Over)

Nawaz comes into attack

SL 37/3 (6 Over) 

Hasan Ali continues

SL 29/3 (5 Over) 

4.6: Good length ball angling into middle stump and de Silva has to offer a shot before he expected it. Tries to punch it leg side but the ball hits the face of the bat and goes high up in the air for mid off to run in and take the catch. 147kph, de Silva was definitely surprised by how quickly it got to him

Haris Rauf to bowl his second

SL 22/2 (4 Over) 

Hasan Ali comes into attack

SL 7/2 (3 Over) 

Hasnain continues

SL 3/2 (2 Over) 

1.2: Gunathilaka tried to set the tone by hitting a cut square, but the extra bounce induces the edge and Rizwan snaps this up! And he’s displayed some mega air time diving to his left

Haris Rauf to bowl from the other end

SL 2/1 (1 Over) 

0.2: The aggressive Kusal Mendis pokes at a short-ish ball that was seaming away from him. Played away from his body, takes the edge, and it floats into the hands of first slip.

Mohammad Hasnain to open the bowling attack for Pakistan. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis to open Sri Lankan batting

PAKISTAN VS SRI LANKA (2nd INNING)

Spinners wreaked havoc on Pakistan batting line as Sri Lanka restricted the Green Shirts to 121 in the first innings of the Asia Cup 2022 Super Four encounter

PAK 121/9 (19 Over)

18.5: Mohammad Nawaz run out. Goes back and across, pulls this to deep midwicket, and risks a second. Nawaz dives in, but he falls short. Lovely throw on the top of the stumps

Madushanka continues to bowl the second last over

PAK 110/8 (18 Over)

17.5: Qadir tries the big slog sweep here but this is an offbreak that turns away from him outside off, and he gets a massive top edge to deep midwicket

Theekshana to bowl his last over

PAK 102/7 (17 Over)

Madushanka back into the attack

PAK 95/7 (16 Over)

15.6: Hasan shuffles across to try the big sweep, but is nowhere near the pitch, gets a massive top edge to be caught at deep square leg

Theekshana comes back to bowl 16th

PAK 91/6 (15 Over)

14.6: Hasaranga castles Asif Ali. He has picked the wrong’un, looks to play Hasaranga out, but the ball doesn’t turn as much and beats his outside edge to hit the off stumps

14.5: Hasaranga strikes right back. He shortens the length this time, Iftikhar still tries the slog-sweep, and might have connected still, but the ball stays low and deflects off his pad onto the wicket

Hasaranga to bowl his last

PAK 84/4 (14 Over)

13.3:  Khushdil skips down the wicket, but not quite to its pitch, and the ball turns too. Gets the toe end and skies it to long-on

Dhananjaya de Silva to bowl his final over

PAK 80/3 (13 Over)

Theekshana comes back to bowl his second

PAK 78/3 (12 Over)

Dhananjay de Silva back into the attack

PAK 74/3 (11 Over)

10.4: Babar sees the legbreak all right, goes down the track, swings across the line, but the ball just goes straight on to get him bowled

Hasaranga continues

PAK 66/2 (10 Over)

9.2: Fakhar picks the biggest part of the ground.  Seems like a decent hit, and perhaps would have been six from the other end. Here he finds deep this, Hasaranga, who times his leap to perfection

Chamika Karunaratne to bowl his first

PAK 62/1 (9 Over)

Hasaranga continues

PAK 60/1 (8 Over)

Dhananjaya to bowl the 8th

PAK 53-1 (7 Over)

Hasaranga comes into attack

PAK 49-1 (6 Over)

Madushan continues

PAK 34-1 (5 Over)

Dhananjaya de Silva joins the attack

PAK 34-1 (4 Over)

3.3: First wicket for Madushan. Wide length ball, gets some swing away, Rizwan has had enough half-hits, he is going for the big one, but the swing undoes him. Starts off thinking he will go over mid-off, but the swing means he is dragging it. All he manages is a top edge to short fine leg

Pramodh Madushan comes into attack

PAK 25-0 (3 Over)

Madushanaka continues

PAK 19-0 (2 Over)

Maheesh Theekshana to bowl from the other end

PAK 11-0 (1 Over)

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam come out to open for Pakistan, Madushanka to bowl first over

PAKISTAN VS SRI LANKA (1ST INNING)

DUBAI: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan in the Super Four stage encounter of Asia Cup 2022.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (C) , Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pramodh Madushan

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches-21, Pakistan-13, Sri Lanka-8

DUBAI: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan in the Super Four stage encounter of Asia Cup 2022. 

The two team will also lock horns in the final on Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (C) , Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Parmodh Madushan

LAHORE: Pakistan Test team on Friday landed in the country via Dubai after the conclusion of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

According to the details, Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam, alongside Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Ali Agha, Azhar Ali, and Shan Masood reached Allama Iqbal International Airport here.

Pakistan speedster Hairs Rauf, leg-spinner Yasir Shah, and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, on the other hand, landed at Islamabad International Airport.

Whereas, former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Fawad Alam, and Saud Shakeel reached Jinnah Terminal, Karachi on Friday morning.

Pakistan right-arm pacer, Hasan Ali, however, will be staying in Dubai, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sri Lanka thrashed Pakistan by 246 runs in the second Test to level the two-match Test series 1-1. Following a humiliating defeat in the last test of the series, the Green Shirts have slipped to fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.

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DUBAI: Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam got the reward for his outstanding performance in the first Test against Sri Lanka as he moved a spot up to claim the third spot in the updated ICC Test Batting Rankings.

Babar, who dreamt of becoming the top-ranked across all three formats, moved a step closer to the rankings trilogy as he claimed the third position in the Test batting rankings.

The right-handed batter already holds the top spot in both ODIs and T20Is.

🥇 in ODIs
🥇 in T20Is
🥉 in Tests@babarazam258 rises to third in the ICC Test Rankings to become the only batter to feature inside the top-three across all formats 🤩 pic.twitter.com/XTgYYTLGAG

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 27, 2022

 

Whilst Babar aims to lead the charts in the supreme format of the game but still trails England’s Joe Root, who holds the top spot with 923 rating points; 49 points clear of Babar.

The Pakistan captain, who scored a gritty 119 runs in the first inning of the first Test against Sri Lanka, replaced veteran Australian batter Steve Smith at the third spot and moved 26 points ahead of him.

Babar is 11 ratings behind Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne, ranked second. He is also the only batter to feature inside the top three across all formats.

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GALLE: Pakistan left-handed batter Fawad Alam has completed 1000 runs in the longest format of the game amid the second day’s play of the ongoing second Test.

Fawad, who came to bat in a challenging phase for his team as Pakistan were struggling at 65/3, having lost their top batters Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique, and Imam-ul-Haq, provided a moment to cherish for the visitors as he amassed a thousand-run mark in Test cricket.

The left-handed batter, however, could not stay for long at the crease to pull the visitors out of trouble as he could only score 24 runs off 69 balls before Ramesh Mendis trapped him in the legs briefly after Tea.

In the course of his brief inning, the southpaw amassed an important milestone for his career, that remained inconsistent as he was dropped from the side after playing a mere two Tests before making his way back into the team after a gap of 11 years.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan have scored 171/6 in 59 overs and are still trailed by 207 runs.

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GALLE: Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam confirmed left-arm spinner, Nauman Ali, as the replacement of ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury.

Babar, in a Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) released video statement, acknowledged Shaheen’s absence will be dearly missed while confirming that the touring side will add another spinner to the Playing XI for the second Test.

“Shaheen is our main bowler who provides us early breakthroughs. Unfortunately, he is not available so we have added another spinner, Nauman Ali and he will be playing tomorrow,” Babar confirmed.

“We will go with two pacers tomorrow and try to continue our match-winning performance,” he maintained.

Babar then went on to comment on the Green Shirts’ historic and record-breaking triumph over Sri Lanka in the first Test while claiming that the team always tries its best to produce such performances.

“As a team, we focus on record-breaking performances. Every player takes his responsibility sincerely and tries to give his hundred percent,” Babar asserted.

“As a unit, we are doing good so far. In the end, there are also some weak areas and we will try to work hard and come up more strongly,” he concluded.

The second Test between Pakistan and the hosts Sri Lanka will be played from July 24 to 28 at the same venue, meanwhile, the Green Shirts have a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series after their historic win in the first match.

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