Pakistan To Clash With Sri Lanka Today In Final Game Of Super Four

Dubai, Sep 9 (TNA) Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play in a final game of Super Four in Dubai before the 'big finals' on 11th September, this match is taken to be a dress rehearsal before the finals. Both teams will look to fine their tune before the ICC World T20. The temperature in Dubai and Sharjah are very high resulting in injuries to players and cramps in all teams. This game will also be a opportunity for Babar Azam to get back among the runs after a string of low scores, with eye on finals, both teams will look to rest their respective key players.

This game is also called as the 'Debt Trap Derby' as both economies of the nation are on the verge of collapse. On their way to this journey of the Asia Cup, both teams have done some sort of high-class chasing. Sri Lanka set a Sharjah ground record when they chased down 176 against Afghanistan. Pakistan chasing 182 against India with one ball to spare was even more impressive, before Sri Lanka also defeated India with one ball to spare. The biggest worry for Pakistan will be the middle order collapse, although if not for Naseem Shah two sixes this game would have been called as an do-or-die game for Pakistan.

Sri Lanka situation is not much different from Pakistan regarding their chase, after failing to read the Afghan spinners in the first group game, Sri Lanka came back strong against Bangladesh and finally Super 4 win against Afghanistan which was a revenge for their loss in Group stage. The biggest worry for Sri Lanka will be middle order folly which was exposed against India, from 97/0 Sri Lankan were reduced to 110/4, all credit goes to Captain Dasun Shanka allround performance which helped Sri Lanka to play on 11th September.

Although, Sri Lanka do not boast with bunch of world class player but still they have hard hitters like Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Dasun Shanaka and not to forget spinning duo of Mahela Theekshana and Wanindu Hasranga. Pakistan, on the other hand had relied more on Mohammed Rizwan, who is only player with more than 200 runs in this edition of Asia Cup, with 212 at a average of 70.66. On the bowling front, Pakistan have a clear advantage. But, then both team are likely to rest their key players for this dress rehearsal.

As per the team news are concern, Sri Lanka will look to swap expensive Asitha Fernando, for one of the younger quick bowler like Matheesha Pathirana or Parmod Madushan. There is also chance that Sri Lanka would rest Wanindu Hasranga so as to not give Pakistan a look at him before finals.

Where as, Pakistan might give a break to Naseem Shah for Hasan Ali, there is also chance that Shadab Khan might be rested with Usman Qadir coming in. Overall, in head to head Sri Lanka has lost 13 and won only 8 T20l against Pakistan. They won the last three in a row but that was in 2019.

-- Ritik Bhadra