Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka today in the Asia Cup 2022 final, keeping its eyes on ending the 12-year drought to win the trophy.
Yesterday’s match will definitely give a psychological advantage to Sri Lanka as they defeated Pakistan in the rehearsal match by 5 wickets, however, everyone knows about Green Shirts’ capability to bounce back after quickly learning their mistakes.
Green Shirts will start the cricket battle against Sri Lanka for winning their third Asia Cup, whereas, it will be the sixth fight for Sri Lanka to be crowned in the tournament.
Interestingly, both teams had started the tournament with disappointing performances as SL lost its beginning match against Afghanistan, whereas, Pakistan lost the match against arch-rival India.
Pakistan will probably learn from their biggest weakness after Friday’s match against the finalist SL that they will have to be strong on the batting front to cope with the spin challenge.
The match will start at 7:30 and played at Dubai stadium today.
Pitch and conditions
It will be hot and dry again, as it has been all fortnight, according to ESPNCricInfo.
Team news
After resting a few players in the last game, Pakistan should revert to the side that won three games in a row prior to Friday’s defeat.
Pakistan (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Iftikhar Ahmed, 5 Khushdil Shah, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Asif Ali, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad Hasnain
Sri Lanka may consider bringing Asitha Fernando back, but after that commanding bowling performance on Friday, an unchanged XI is more likely.
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis (wk), 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Danushka Gunathilaka, 5 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 6 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 7 Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Pramod Madushan, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
Stats and trivia
Haris Rauf is three strikes shy of 50 T20I wickets.
This is the fourth time Sri Lanka and Pakistan are playing an Asia Cup final, with Sri Lanka winning two of the previous three.