Before the Asia Cup 2022 final, Pakistan suffered an embarrassing loss to Sri Lanka in the pre-cursor of the final. Dasun Shanaka’s team won by 5 wickets on Friday in Dubai to send a big statement they are as favourites to win the final on Sunday as Pakistan are.
Both the teams had already qualified for the final – courtesy of their wins over India and Afghanistan – and will clash on Sunday at the same venue.
Granted that Pakistan had rested Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan for this game, but it was their laughable and shocking batting collapse that will highlight the headlines. Pakistan slipped from 63/1 to 121 and left 5 balls in the arrears in their innings.
Babar Azam continued his struggles in Asia Cup 2022
Even though Pakistan skipper Babar Azam top-scored from his side with 30 runs, he was once again criticised heavily – for his 30 runs came off 29 balls! Mohammad Rizwan, too, batted at a poor strike rate of 100 for his 14 runs in 14 balls and got out to a hoick. Babar was bowled by Hasaranga while looking to dance out and slog but missed the loopy delivery.
Mohammad Nawaz showed a bit of a fight with 26 runs from 18 balls and took Pakistan’s total to over 120.
Hasaranga, who would later bag the Man of the Match, picked up three wickets – that of Babar, Iftikar and Asif Ali. Theekshana and Madushan nipped out two batters each.
Sri Lanka stuttered early in the chase with Hasnain and Rauf dismissing Kusal Mendis and Gunathilaka for ducks, Sri Lanka reeling at 2/2 which later became 29/3 when Rauf had Dhananjaya de Silva.
However, opener Pathum Nissanka, who has been in pleasant form in recent months, showed his class and temperament by holding his end. Nissanka weathered the pace storm early and then played his strokes to guide Sri Lanka’s chase by remaining unbeaten on 55* off 49 balls with the help of 5 fours and a six.
Having escaped defeat by just 1 wicket against Afghanistan a couple of days ago, the Pakistan team were steamrolled by Sri Lanka.
Fans trolled Pakistan for their dismal batting performance:
Ramiz Raza and Shahid Afridi called Babar before the game. Babar started like Rameez and ended like Afridi. What a star. ⭐
— ∆nkit🏏 (@CaughtAtGully) September 9, 2022
Preferring Iftikhar Over Haider is the Biggest Crime Of Babar Azam (The Captain)
— Maham Fatima (@Maham0fficial_2) September 9, 2022
Pakistan sold the match for Sri Lanka Premier League contract. 😭
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 9, 2022
Virat beats Pakistan by 1 run.
— Manya (@CSKian716) September 9, 2022
Wanindu Hasaranga against Pakistan in T20I:
4-0-20-2 & 7*(6)
4-0-38-3 & 2*(2)
4-0-21-3 & 6(4)
4-0-21-3 & 10*(3)2 Player of the match & 1 player of the series award – he likes to play against Pakistan.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 9, 2022
Mohammed Nawaz is the only Nawaz doing good for Pakistan consistently, Also, Pakistan need Khan back. (Shadab and Imran). #Cricket #SLvPAK
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) September 9, 2022
And just like every time, Pakistan is unable to read Hasranga again. What a bowler he is becoming. #PakvsSL pic.twitter.com/J4rnUVM0fC
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) September 9, 2022
Daniel Alexander applauding Sri Lanka when he actually wanted Pakistan to win pic.twitter.com/zfE94YSSjm
— Not Daniel Alexander (@_UnrealDaniel) September 9, 2022
Aakash Chopra: Kohli on this pitch scored 122. Afghanistan couldn’t score that many runs not even Pakistan and even Sri Lanka is in trouble.
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) September 9, 2022
Whole Pakistan to Hassan Ali 😂🤣🙏#PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/rfzjKfS9ZQ
— Syed Umer Gilani (@gilani_umer) September 9, 2022
Pakistan team: “we have a plan”
THE PLAN: pic.twitter.com/SN5XQ5wwHy
— ✨ (@gayomarlic) September 9, 2022
