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
