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High hopes for underdogs Sri Lanka in Asia Cup final

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DUBAI; Sri Lanka are poised for an unlikely Asia Cup victory over favourites Pakistan in Sunday’s final after a giant-slaying streak through the tournament despite troubles at home.

The island nation had to abandon plans to host the Twenty20 competition due to political unrest and stumbled in their opener to Afghanistan by eight wickets, with nearly 10 overs remaining.

But the five-time champions bounced back to beat Bangladesh, Afghanistan and tournament favourites India, scuttling a hotly anticipated finals showdown between Rohit Sharma’s men and arch-rivals Pakistan.

Friday’s closing Super Four match was a dress rehearsal for the Dubai final — and Sri Lanka’s fourth straight victory, albeit with Pakistan missing two of their key players.

On Sunday they will depend on the spin pairing of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who helped bowl out Pakistan for 121 on Friday in a comfortable five-wicket win.

Opener Pathum Nissanka led the batting charge with an unbeaten 55 in a clinical show, but skipper Dasun Shanaka warned his team of complacency.

“The confidence we have is massive after four consecutive wins, but we still don’t take Pakistan lightly in the final,” Shanaka told reporters.

“We know they are a very good side and enough good players in their side to come back strong and we should be ready for that.”

Sri Lanka fared well in their recent home series of two Tests against Pakistan, played in Galle against the backdrop of a punishing economic crisis and political unrest.

Shanaka said his side had been bombarded with “messages of love and support” and its Asia Cup success had brought cheer back home after miserable months of blackouts, fuel shortages and protests.

“So nice that we are winning and giving back something to them,” he said.

Confidence and passion 

Pakistan are weathering their own troubles at home with monsoon floods that have inundated a third of the country.

But the team have shone through the tournament, a curtain-raiser for next month’s T20 World Cup in Australia, avenging an opening game loss to India and clinching a last-over thriller against Afghanistan.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah and all-rounder Shadab Khan both missed Friday’s showdown but will lengthen Sri Lanka’s odds when they return for the final.

Naseem, 19, has kept the edge on Pakistan’s bowling attack in the absence of pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the tournament due to injury.

He also hit two sixes in a dramatic one-wicket win over Afghanistan to seal India’s exit.

Pakistans captain Babar Azam (L) and teammate Fakhar Zaman take a run during the Asia Cup Twenty20 international cricket Super Four match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on September 9, 2022. — AFP
Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam (L) and teammate Fakhar Zaman take a run during the Asia Cup Twenty20 international cricket Super Four match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on September 9, 2022. — AFP

Batting remains a cause for concern, with skipper Babar Azam managing a tournament best of just 30. Mohammad Rizwan is the only consistent performer with 226 runs in five matches.

But coach Saqlain Mushtaq said he had complete faith in his side to deliver despite Azam’s “unlucky” run.

“The latest match we won against India, we chased and batted well,” he said.

“Things are moving in the right direction and we are confident.”

Pakistan’s latest loss to Sri Lanka might have stalled their momentum, but Saqlain said the team will heed the lessons of Friday’s match-up.

“I will talk about mistakes in the dressing room, but Sri Lanka will take confidence into the final and Pakistan some learnings and passion,” Saqlain said.

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It looks like Pakistan will choose Babar Azam as captain once more!

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Due to Pakistan’s appalling performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the right-handed hitter resigned as captain of the team in all formats of the game. The team lost five of its nine group-stage games, preventing them from making it to the semifinals.

Sources claim that Babar Azam has been contacted by representatives of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and a meeting with him is scheduled prior to his departure for Abbottabad, where he will join his teammates for a fitness camp at the military academy Kakul.

It is important to note that during a meeting with Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the prolific batter announced his resignation.

The governing body said that Shaheen Afridi will captain the squad in the Twenty20 internationals after he tendered his resignation.

The talented player, who was named the T20I team’s captain in November, has only served as skipper for one series—five games in New Zealand—during which Pakistan lost 4-1.

His series defeat by New Zealand was followed by a terrible PSL season for the Lahore Qalandars, who managed only one victory in ten games.

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Australia releases the schedule for the White Ball Series versus Pakistan.

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In the summer of 2024–2025, the Pakistan Cricket Team will travel to Australia for a white-ball series. Six games in all, three ODIs and as many T20Is, will be played in the series between November 4, 2024, and November 18, 2024, at six different venues.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the start of the three-match Dettol Men’s ODI series on November 4th, according to the itinerary that was made public. Next up are matches between Australia and Pakistan in Perth on November 10 and Adelaide on November 8, respectively.

Australia and Pakistan will play three matches in the Dettol Men’s T20I Series after November 14. In 2022, Pakistan played their final Twenty20 International match on Australian soil when the men in green competed in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.

Cricket Australia releases the schedule for the Pakistan white ball series.

The Gabba in Brisbane will serve as the series’ launchpad. The action will next shift to Sydney Cricket Ground, where Pakistan defeated New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final in their most recent Twenty20 International there. The tour’s last destination is Hobart, where the final Twenty20 International match is scheduled for November 18.

Complete itinerary: ODI Series

November 4: Melbourne’s MCG
November 8 at Adelaide’s Oval
Perth Stadium, Perth T20I Series, November 10

November 14: Brisbane’s The Gabba
November 16: Sydney’s SCG
18 November: Hobart’s Bellerive Oval
The last time Pakistan and Australia played an ODI series there was in 2016, and the host team won.

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Amir and Imad Wasim attend Kakul Fitness Camp.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday named the 29 players who will be taking part in the fitness camp at Kakul, Abbottabad, including bowler Muhammad Amir and Imad Wasim.

Wasim and Amir had just changed their minds about retiring from international cricket and sent an invitation to the board to play in the next tournaments.

The PCB stated in a news statement that the camp was “strategically designed to prepare the players for the upcoming series and tournaments” and that it was run in conjunction with the army.

In addition to playing T20I series against Ireland and England, Pakistan will host a T20I series against New Zealand. In the USA and the West Indies, it will also take part in the ICC T20 World Cup.

“The camp is scheduled to start tomorrow, March 26, and end on April 8. Later today, the players will report to the camp, according to the PCB.

The goal of the camp was to “enhance the physical and mental strength of the players, ensuring they are in the best condition to face the challenges ahead” in addition to emphasizing team bonding.

The PCB states that “the players will undergo a comprehensive training regime tailored to elevate their fitness levels, agility, leadership and strategic thinking and overall performance on the field, under the guidance of experienced trainers and coaches.”

ACTORS

The players are: Iftikhar Ahmed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mehran Mumtaz, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ali, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir.

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