Having witnessed a socio-economic crisis coupled with worst democratic turmoil in its history, the Sri Lankan cricket team would like to provide its countrymen with an emotional catharsis if it happens to beat a much superior Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday. (More Cricket News)
Technically, Sri Lanka are the hosts of this Asia Cup but call it a cruel twist of fateꦏ, the tournament had to be shifted꧟ to UAE for security reasons.
It could have been infinitely sweeter had Dasun Shanaka and his men would have played the final at the iconic Khettarama Stadium (now Premadasa Stadium) but the kind of performance they have put in the Super 4s would make anyone believe that it would be anything but easy for Babar Azam's side.
Whether its the Asian Cricket Council or general public of Dubai, everyone wanted an Indo-Pak finaꦍl but the gutsy cricketers from the island nation have earned their right to be in the summit clash.
And if that꧅ wasn't enough, Friday's easy win against their final opponents was the kind of warning signal that🐭 will keep Pakistan on tenterhooks.
But at Dubai, buoyed by a sizeable Pakistani population bursting its lungs out, th💙e Mohammed Rizwans, Mohammed Nawazs and Naseem Shahs would♎ like to lift their games on the big day, which has been a tradition that is so relatable with the legacy of their national teams over the years.
But in Sri Lanka, they have an opposition that could be more than handful and a team that has certainly rede𝄹emed itself in a format where they had become world champions back in 2014.
The fortunes ༒of Sri Lanka cricket nose-dived just like the country's eco-system in general, with poor selection and internal politics in the board not helping their cause either.
The team that Shanaka led during their away series in India some six mo🗹nths back had more or less same bunch of players but what Sri Lanka had done successfully is change𝕴 their T20 gameplan, which is now filled with aggression.
Even without Dushmantha Chammera, the bowling attack has looked potent but there is one area where Rahul Dravid and the Indian team coulꦕd take a note of is how impactful Sri Lanka's top five batters have been.
Two right handed openers, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka have been positivity pe𝔉rsonified at the top while likes of Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shanaka himseౠlf and Chamikaatne Karunaratne have all made runs that matter.
A case in point was how they chased down a target of 70 odd against Afghanistan, wꦍhere none of the batters scored more than 35 but all of them made those runs at a strike-rate of 150 plus.
In 🌸the five games so far, the Sri Lankan batters ha🍬ve hit 28 sixes and 62 fours, which gives a story of their approach.
In bowling, Mahesh Theekshana has come up as a potent spin bowling partner of Wanindu Hasaranga while Dilshan Madhushanka has shouldered the responsibil൩ity of the lead pacer quite admirably.
In comparison, Pakistan have made it to the finals but Babar's own form has deserted him throughout the tournament. Only 63 runs from five game▨s isn't someဣthing one expects from a player of his calibre.
The skipper would like to sing the re൲demption song in the match that matters most.
Pakistan's streng🅷th is their bowling attack that has Naseem Shah, showing improvement with each passing day, along with Harris Rauf and Mohammed Hasnain.
The two spinners, leg-break bowler Shadab Khan (ER 5.79 and 7 wickets) and left-arm orthodox Mohammed Nawaz (ER 6.05 and 8 wickets) have also been ver𓄧y impressive.
Howeveꦫr in Dubai, one has seen that toss has become an important factor as Pakistan aren't good while batting first and in the two games that they have lost ♒in the tournament against India and Sri Lanka, they have batted first.
None of the top-order batters have a strike rate of 120 plus, especially those who have faced more than 50 balls in the tournament. Therefore Pakistan's best chance would be to win the toss and field first as Rizwan is always in control when P𒀰akistan are chaꦿsing.
Teams (from)
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danush𝓰ka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ma🍰heesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwanidu Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal.
Pakistan: Babar ꦬAzam (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Mohammed Hasnain, Hasan Ali.
Match starts 7:30pm IST.
