Published: Mar 04, 2016, 08:06 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 04, 2016, 11:19 AM (IST)
Pakistan and Sri Lanka to indulge in a seemingly irrelevant match of Asia Cup T20 as far as the standings are concerned with India and Bangladesh set to face each other on Sunday for the title. Both teams have had a rather forgettable tournament losing to Bangladesh and barely escaping humiliating loss against UAE. Apart from the negatives, this game will work as a confidence-booster for them ahead of the T20 World Cup as well as opportunity to restore pride. While neither Pakistan nor Sri Lanka has come good with bat, the bowlers, especially seamers, have been top-notch throughout the tournament. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup T20 2016, Match 10 at Dhaka
Both sides will have the license to go all out, with nothing to lose in this tournament. Experimentation will be on minds of both captains, Shahid Afridi and Angelo Mathews. With Afridi’s captaincy on the line, he will not leave any stone unturned to get a consolation prize. Both sides are evenly matched with fearsome bowling and out of form batting.
Pakistan have big guns in their batting-order, including Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik, all of whom can win matches on their own. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, boast of Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Chamara Kapugedara. The problem for both sides lies in the top orders failing to deliver during fielding restrictions. Veterans from both sides, Hafeez and Dilshan, have not got going; they have not even played small blitzes. ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2016 exit presents another chance for Pakistan to reconsider their strategy
Pakistan’s self-proclaimed best bowling attack of the tournament depends a lot on Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Irfan. Others, unfortunately, have leaked runs at crucial stages of the game. Aamer will be one player to watch out for his ability of turning the match single-handedly. Sri Lankan seamers have not failed to impress either, with youngster Dushmantha Chameera and skipper Mathews doing a competent job. While Rangana Herath still has the ability to push the opposition on back-foot, Nuwan Kulasekra’s form is a matter of concern for their pace attack to tighten the flow of runs in latter stages of the game.
This contest is supposed to be a-nail biter between two evenly matched sides to go into World T20 2016 with positives on their side. The battle between Sri Lanka’s top-order and a ferocious Aamer will be interesting to watch.
