Asia Cup 2023: The Asia Cup 2023 match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played today (September 14). Whichever team wins this match will enter the final, where they will face the Indian team. The final match will be played in Colombo on September 17.
A day before this match, Pakistan has announced its playing-11. Pakistan’s playing-11 against Sri Lanka has made not one or two but 5 changes.
This Pakistani bowler will debut in ODIs
Fakhar Zaman, Aga Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf have been dropped from Pakistan’s playing XI for the match against Sri Lanka.
In place of Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris will be seen leading in the opening season, while in the middle order, Saud Shakeel and spin all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz will take over the reins. This will be the debut match of 22-year-old Zaman in ODIs. Zaman is capable of bowling at a speed of 150 kmph.
Pakistani batsmen will have to show strength
Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have two points each and in this way today’s match has become a kind of knockout match. The Indian team has already confirmed its place in the final by defeating Sri Lanka by 41 runs in the Super Four match on Tuesday. The Rohit Sharma-led team is currently at the top with 4 points.
Pakistan’s concern is not only about the injured players. His batsmen have not been able to perform as expected in the tournament so far. His team scored 342 for six against Nepal in the first match of the Asia Cup in Multan, but after that their batsmen struggled to score a big score.
Batsmen like Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed will also have to make useful contributions if Pakistan are to win against Sri Lanka. Iftikhar had shown a good example of his ability to play long shots by scoring a century against Nepal, but he needs to maintain consistency in his performance against strong teams.
Sri Lanka team will give a tough challenge to Pakistan
Sri Lanka is one such strong team that is ready to give a tough challenge to Pakistan. In the league stage, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets, but the result of the past will not matter much in Thursday’s match.
After beating Bangladesh and posing a tough challenge to India, Sri Lanka have shown that their team is capable of doing well despite the absence of some of its key players.
Before the start of the tournament, Sri Lanka’s key players Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara were ruled out due to injuries.
Sri Lankan bowlers have to show strength
Sri Lanka would like to be consistent in their performance from their fast bowlers, especially Kasun Rajitha. Rajitha has taken the same number of wickets in four matches so far, but he has given runs at the rate of about six runs per over.
Sri Lanka’s spinners did well against India and their team will again expect them to do better. The pitch is also helping the spinners and in such a situation, the role of slow bowlers of both teams will become important.
Pakistan’s playing XI against Sri Lanka
Mohammad Haris, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman Khan.
Sri Lanka’s probable playing XI in the match
Pathum Nisanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Aslanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Dunith Welles, Mahish Tikshna, Kasun Rajitha, Mathisha Pathirana.
About Author
