The Asia Cup 2022 finished with Sri Lanka defying all odds and winning – Defending in Dubai! – by 23 runs against Pakistan on Sunday night. Sri Lanka were crowned the Asia Cup champions for the 6th time in history, while Pakistan missed their 3rd Asia Cup title.
The Pakistani bowlers let Sri Lanka move from 58/5 to 170 courtesy of a blistering knock by Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who smashed 71 runs off 45 balls.
Sri Lanka got on top when their bowlers struck early with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman’s wicket. After that, the slow-go from Rizwan and Iftikar Ahmad – partnership of 71 runs off 59 balls – buried Pakistan’s chase and they never got back. Hasaranga effectively killed the game with three strikes in the 17th over.
Should Babar Azam drop down at number 3?
Amid this, while there will be the dissection of Pakistan’s loss, Babar Azam’s form should be up for it. Azam suffered his worst series/tournament in the last few years. While he’d been in a great touch across formats before this tournament, the Pakistani skipper failed to get going in the Asia Cup 2022.
In 5 of his 6 innings he got out for less than 15, and in the one in did go past it, Babar took 29 balls for his 30 runs.
Babar Azam scores in Asia Cup: 10(9) vs India, 9(8) vs Hong Kong, 14(10) vs India, 0(1) vs Afghanistan, 30(29) vs Sri Lanka, 5(6) vs Sri Lanka. A total of 68 runs in 6 matches at a strike rate of 107. Couple it with Rizwan’s scoring rate – 117 strike rate and even though Rizwan finished with 281 runs, both he and Babar mostly failed to give rapid starts. This further piled up pressure on Number 3 Fakhar Zaman, who himself was already out of form.
For one batsman whom Babar Azam had wished to return to form – Virat Kohli – did, but now seems like Babar needs wishes for his form to get back.
Babar Azam was trolled heavily on Twitter as his dismal tournament with the bat came to an end:
Virat – 5 innings-276 runs
Babar – 6 innings-68 runsStop comparing clowns to the KING. Virat Kohli >>>>>>> Babar Azam and falana dhimka🥳🥳 #ViratKohli 👑
— Unnati Madan (@unnati_madan) September 11, 2022
Who would have thought that Babar Hayat will end this tournament with a better average than Babar Azam? A totally forgettable tournament for the big man. #AsiaCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 11, 2022
This Duo, Babar and Rizwan✨🫰
One doing his job by getting out under 10 runs and other scoring runs at academy parameters 🥺
How can both be this perfect man 😩😍 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/clJyJdlekp— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) September 11, 2022
Aunty Babar ghar per hai? Ussey this will pass bolna tha pic.twitter.com/JavmZDtmbi
— Jasir Shahbaz (@LahoreMarquez) September 11, 2022
Babar Azam has been Pakistan’s only spectator who attended all matches. Dedication ❤
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 11, 2022
Now waiting for Babar Azam’s press conference about their learnings from today’s match.
— Vipul Goyal (@HumorouslyVipul) September 11, 2022
Sri Lanka have a proper head coach who has a plan & has been so active throughout the tournament Pakistan have a peace ambassador who loves Babar’s cover drive & also have a special love for Virat Kohli
— JSK (@imjsk27) September 11, 2022
Babar’s career in #AsiaCup2022#PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/CcODmCHtqi
— Aarz-e-ishq (@Aarzaai_Ishq) September 11, 2022
That ends a nightmare tournament for Babar as a batter. Same disaster for Fakhar.
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 11, 2022
BABAR AZAM FULL BATTING HIGHLIGHTS🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/lXaFm4im2w
— Abdullah (@flackkkooo) September 11, 2022
babar after winning toss in every game pic.twitter.com/yyRQVot6KS
— rants (@RantsPakistani) September 11, 2022
Babar Azam in Asia Cup 2022:
10(9)
9(8)
14(10)
0(1)
30(29)
5(6)Only one 20+ Score That Too In losing cause .
68 runs in 6 matches .😂🤣🤣🤣#AsiaCup2022Final || #PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/DMEInENu4i— Prof.Boies Pilled Bell FC 💫 (@im_ShivP45) September 11, 2022
Babar’s comeback pic.twitter.com/FrNNTNBJ4M
— 🐾 (@Lanaschild_) September 11, 2022
Captain Babar Azam and PCB Selection Committee has been blamed and criticised by cricket fans on socialmedia and Shoaib Malik for preferring friendships in the selection process. #AsiaCup
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) September 11, 2022
– When will we come out from friendship, liking & disliking culture.
Allah always helps the honest…— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) September 11, 2022
The worse is yet to come for Pakistani fans at stadium, Afghani fans are waiting for them outside. 😹😹😹😹 #AsiaCup2022Final#AsiaCupFinal
Congratulations Pakistan
Babar Azam
Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/6JYRVFYhub— Lambhushan™ لمبو شن (@DesiKangaro) September 11, 2022
This is what Babar Azam said after the loss in the post-match press conference: “Congratulations to Sri Lanka for playing outstanding cricket. We dominated them for the first eight overs, but the partnership that Rajapaksa got was amazing. This was a true wicket and it is always nice playing in Dubai. We didn’t bat according to our potential. We started well, but we gave away 15-20 extra runs and couldn’t finish well. A lot of positives for us to take. In a final, the margin for mistakes is lesser. Our fielding wasn’t up to the mark and the batting couldn’t finish it off well. But Rizwan, Naseem and Nawaz were positives. Ups and downs will be there, but it would be nicer if we made lesser mistakes.”
