Asia Cup 2022 | Final | Sri Lanka v Pakistan | 11 September 2022 | Dubai | Pre-Match Thread

[daytrader]

A lousy batting performance by Pakistan - once again Babar, Riz and now Nawaz turning out to be the only people who we depend upon - rest seem to be on a holiday

Looking ahead to the final, Shadab and Naseem are the obvious to comebacks for Hasan and Qadir. Any other changes? Should we have a surprise package for the final? Both Khushdil and Iftikhar are looking disposable.

as Saj put it....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's about time Khushdil Shah, Fakhar Zaman, Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed stepped up with the bat instead of continually hiding behind Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and brilliant innings from Mohammad Nawaz & Naseem Shah to win matches <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvsSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvsSL</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1568266180388864002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The final points table at end of the Super 4 shows Sri Lanka's supremacy - how much will that count in psychological terms for the final?

 

[Marooned]

The biggest selection headache for me:

Dahani (if fit) vs Hasnain.

I loved watching Hasnain and he obviously has lots of potential but I'd still go with Dahani for final. Think his control is better and is a more reliable option at present.

 

[Saj]

Naseem Shah and Shadab back in for Usman Qadir and Naseem Shah in for Hassan Ali.

Will they risk picking Haider Ali who hasn't played so far in this tournament?

 

[Marooned]

Naseem Shah and Shadab back in for Usman Qadir and Naseem Shah in for Hassan Ali.

Will they risk picking Haider Ali who hasn't played so far in this tournament?

Where is the risk in Haider Ali?

The middle order has been a failure as it is.

Also, do you have any info on Dahani? Is he fit again?

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

M Rizwan +
B Azam *
F Zaman (Final chance)
S Khan/ M Nawaz (to tackle SL spinners)
M Nawaz/ S Khan (to tackle SL spinners)
I Ahmed/ K Shah (only 1 of these 2 should play)
A Ali
H Rauf
N Shah
S Dahani
M Hasnain

Go with 4 pacers, 2 spinners

Try to bowl as less spin as possible at the Lankans

 

[Gayle_Force]

Iftikhar's biggest contribution this tournament has been in the two runs he scored in the last over against India. Khushdil and Fakhar are also coasting on the innings against hong kong.

Depending on the timing of the first fall of wicket I would be tempted to bring in either Shadab or Nawaz at number 3. Whenever Fakhar starts during the spin period the scoring rate drops considerably.

 

[saabir]

This 11 should be selected for Sunday's game.
1. Rizwan
2. Babar
3. Haider Ali ( cannot be worse than Fakhar)
4. Nawaz(way better than Ifti, Asif and Khusdil). Can play both fast and spin equally good.
5. Shadab (very good against spinners better than so called specialist batters )
6) Iftikhar
7) Khusdil
8) Asif
9. Haris
10. Naseem
11. Hasnain

 

[IMMY69]

Shocking how Fakhar has gone from being a destroyer of spin bowling to becoming totally meek and clueless against them..

Also Happy Heart doesn't warrant a place unless he bowls.

For Sunday we need to promote Shadab or Nawaz to number 3 as they're both in decent form.
Keep Fakhar, Asif, Khushdil and Ifti for 5.6 and 8.
Have these as your floaters

Haider should have played today but now it would be risky to play him on Sunday without any game time.

Bowling wise, Hasnain keeps his place cause he was our best bowler today.
Naseem and Shadab to replace Hasan Ali and Qadir.

For Australia, we need to get Haidar Ali and Shan Masood into the side.
We can't carry on with one dimensional aging cricketers like Ifti and Asif.
Plus Kushdil needs to get his bowling going otherwise he misses out in Australia too

 

[Gayle_Force]

Shocking how Fakhar has gone from being a destroyer of spin bowling to becoming totally meek and clueless against them..

Also Happy Heart doesn't warrant a place unless he bowls.

For Sunday we need to promote Shadab or Nawaz to number 3 as they're both in decent form.
Keep Fakhar, Asif, Khushdil and Ifti for 5.6 and 8.
Have these as your floaters

Haider should have played today but now it would be risky to play him on Sunday without any game time.

Bowling wise, Hasnain keeps his place cause he was our best bowler today.
Naseem and Shadab to replace Hasan Ali and Qadir.

For Australia, we need to get Haidar Ali and Shan Masood into the side.
We can't carry on with one dimensional aging cricketers like Ifti and Asif.
Plus Kushdil needs to get his bowling going otherwise he misses out in Australia too

I would be tempted to almost drop one of Iftikhar or Khushdil for Dahani (if he s fit) and go with 4 fast bowlers.

 

[IMMY69]

I would be tempted to almost drop one of Iftikhar or Khushdil for Dahani (if he s fit) and go with 4 fast bowlers.

Yes that's not a bad idea.
Sometimes you can get carried away by having too many similar types of players and batsmen don't take responsibility. Today was a day for rotating strike snd picking up the ones and twos... instead they just blocked the spinners and got out playing ridiculous shots.

 

[Savak]

Sri Lanka are favorites. Apart from the first game against Afghanistan, they have won all their remaining games and have won tough games.

 

[Gayle_Force]

Yes that's not a bad idea.
Sometimes you can get carried away by having too many similar types of players and batsmen don't take responsibility. Today was a day for rotating strike snd picking up the ones and twos... instead they just blocked the spinners and got out playing ridiculous shots.

Yea even today's match SriLanka was in trouble until they had a release option in form of Hassan Ali. If we are not getting any use out of Iftikhar and Khushdil than might as well test SriLanka with all out fast bowling.

 

[NeVerMind]

I would be tempted to almost drop one of Iftikhar or Khushdil for Dahani (if he s fit) and go with 4 fast bowlers.

Spot on... Our bowling is our strong point so need to go with that...the likes of Dahani, Rauf and Naseem can probably hit more sixes than Happy Heart and Chacha combined!

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan &#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816; Head Coach, Saqlain Mushtaq talks about <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> &#55357;&#56384; and a promising Pakistani squad that is ready for anything that comes their way in the DP World <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup</a> 2022 final on Sunday against Sri Lanka &#55356;&#56817;&#55356;&#56816; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SLvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SLvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ACC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ACC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GetReadyForEpic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GetReadyForEpic</a> <a href="https://t.co/pW9nt1wLyK">pic.twitter.com/pW9nt1wLyK</a></p>— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACCMedia1/status/1568332511641759747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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[pakistani pride]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan &#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816; Head Coach, Saqlain Mushtaq talks about <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> &#55357;&#56384; and a promising Pakistani squad that is ready for anything that comes their way in the DP World <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup</a> 2022 final on Sunday against Sri Lanka &#55356;&#56817;&#55356;&#56816; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SLvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SLvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ACC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ACC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GetReadyForEpic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GetReadyForEpic</a> <a href="https://t.co/pW9nt1wLyK">pic.twitter.com/pW9nt1wLyK</a></p>— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACCMedia1/status/1568332511641759747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Wish some1 asked him what khushdil is doing in the team.

 

[shokz1408]

With Naseem shah and shadab back, that makes the batting a little better and the balling a whole let better. Expecting us to win the final batting first or second. If batting first however I reckon 147 would be a winning score.

 

[Majestic]

Pakistan should look to go with 4 pacers + 2 spinners proper option but I want a cushion of batting (for one pacer) too.

Three of Naseem, Rauf, Hasnain and Dahani and one fast bowling all rounder
Both Shadab and Nawaz

Problem is we simply don't have any hard hitting fast bowling all rounder.

 

[Omer2002]

The pak team is a joke..been getting away with murder and somehow winning..they will come last in world cup. The fact is they dnt have 2020 talent haider is awful as it is

 

[Gayle_Force]

With Naseem shah and shadab back, that makes the batting a little better and the balling a whole let better. Expecting us to win the final batting first or second. If batting first however I reckon 147 would be a winning score.

God bless Naseem Shah for those two courageous sixes but let’s not get ahead of our selves he is a proper no 10-11 batsman.

 

[sweep_shot]

It is 50-50. Can go either way.

SL are in good form. Pakistan are better on paper.

 

[Savak]

I would drop Fakhar for Dhani. He will not be missed

 

[GLORY OF '92]

God bless Naseem Shah for those two courageous sixes but let’s not get ahead of our selves he is a proper no 10-11 batsman.

Show me a a no 11 who's hit 2 sixes to win his team a game in international cricket.....

 

[Mamoon]

Good luck Sri Lanka, you deserve to win. Pakistan’s luck has to run out at some point.

 

[Gayle_Force]

Show me a a no 11 who's hit 2 sixes to win his team a game in international cricket.....

Like I said god bless him for what he did but it would be unfair for us to start having expectations from him to perform as a batsman.

 

[Idrees1990]

The pak team is a joke..been getting away with murder and somehow winning..they will come last in world cup. The fact is they dnt have 2020 talent haider is awful as it is

Yet they are in final

 

[Punjab Kings]

Pakistani players playing for their personal milestones ,,,,,i wish Srilanka to win this... because they deserve this more...

 

[Raja111]

Though srilanka have the momentum whoever wins the toss will win the Asia Cup.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan should win

 

[alishahid]

Lol what personal milestones. I dont think pak were taking this serious. Come the final, there will be a better fight. Same pitch would be used, more runs will be scored. Most of the pak batsman got out on the longer side of the boundary, this will be rectified. Naseem Hasnain and Rauf, Shadab and Nawaz, and maybe maybe Haider a suprise inclusion (not necessarily for fakhar but the instead of the other three)

 

[Marooned]

Can anyone explain to me the criterion of "deserved"?

In a tOsS tournament, perhaps the criterion is again a coin toss?

 

[MenInG]

Shahnawaz Dahani, who sustained a leg injury during Pakistan's group-stage clash against Hong Kong, has been declared fit for the final of the Asia Cup.

 

[DRsohail]

Good luck Sri Lanka, you deserve to win. Pakistan’s luck has to run out at some point.

Anything we win is due to luck, MashaAllah.when did srilanka become better team than us by the way.

 

[Marooned]

Shahnawaz Dahani, who sustained a leg injury during Pakistan's group-stage clash against Hong Kong, has been declared fit for the final of the Asia Cup.

Amazing news!

He should be the one starting in final.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Anything we win is due to luck, MashaAllah.when did srilanka become better team than us by the way.

Sri Lanka wins its tosses due to skill

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shahnawaz Dahani who sustained a leg injury during Pakistan's group-stage match against Hong Kong has recovered from the injury and is available for Sunday's final against Sri Lanka <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022Final?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022Final</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvsSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvsSL</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1568488433798246400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

Saqlain Mushtaq in presser:

“Our batting has done well against India and Afghanistan when we chased. You might think that it was a small total and Naseem Shah won it for us but all eleven players batted. We are confident of doing well in the final"

“Shocks do happen in cricket when wickets fall. Sri Lanka played better cricket and won. As a team, one should not be thinking about the outcome of the toss"

“Babar is in good form. It is just that his luck is not going his way. The kind of boundaries he has hit against India. A batter with deeper eyes will say that his form is fine. It is his luck which is not going your way"

“Defeat hurts but it happens and we would like to learn from our mistakes. Sri Lanka will take confidence from this match to the final and we will take learning and passion going into the final.”

“Rizwan is superhuman and he is very spiritual the energy he brings to the team is amazing,” said Mushtaq.

 

[DRsohail]

Sri Lanka wins its tosses due to skill

Hahaha yes ,

 

[SM1989]

Yet they are in final

Its a fluke:

- Were always going to beat Hong Kong who are amateurs
- Nawaz’s innings and Arshdeep’s dropped catch won Pak the match
- Fazalhaq bowled 2 full tosses which Naseem hit for six in a freak accident. Otherwise Pakistan’s batting has been rubbish in the last 2 matches.

So yeah Pakistan are very fortunate to get to this stage. But Lanka have shown yesterday that Pak can be easily beaten.

 

[Shafi]

Saqlain Mushtaq in presser:

“Our batting has done well against India and Afghanistan when we chased. You might think that it was a small total and Naseem Shah won it for us but all eleven players batted. We are confident of doing well in the final"

“Shocks do happen in cricket when wickets fall. Sri Lanka played better cricket and won. As a team, one should not be thinking about the outcome of the toss"

“Babar is in good form. It is just that his luck is not going his way. The kind of boundaries he has hit against India. A batter with deeper eyes will say that his form is fine. It is his luck which is not going your way"

“Defeat hurts but it happens and we would like to learn from our mistakes. Sri Lanka will take confidence from this match to the final and we will take learning and passion going into the final.”

“Rizwan is superhuman and he is very spiritual the energy he brings to the team is amazing,” said Mushtaq.

Again a clueless and signboard coach talking.
We played well against Afghanistan and India? Thanks to Nasim & Nawaz for those 2 lucky victories.

Babar is in good form. Yes if SR is under 100 and not a remarkable innings in whole tournament.
People should ask him about inclusion of Fakhar, Usman,Hasan, Khusdil and Ifri's performance?

 

[PakPremi]

Its a fluke:

- Were always going to beat Hong Kong who are amateurs
- Nawaz’s innings and Arshdeep’s dropped catch won Pak the match
- Fazalhaq bowled 2 full tosses which Naseem hit for six in a freak accident. Otherwise Pakistan’s batting has been rubbish in the last 2 matches.

So yeah Pakistan are very fortunate to get to this stage. But Lanka have shown yesterday that Pak can be easily beaten.

You do know in almost every match Pak dropped catches orbowled full tosses and even mis fielded and had players cramping up middle of their spells or during wicket keeping and batting in case of Rizwan. So all those excuses even up,and the winning team is the one who got target in the end no matter how they got their.
We all know Pakistan middle order is rubbish and few players need to be replaced, but as a team they are performing to get results for now,and in the final the intensity from Pakistani team will be at a different level to this dead rubber, where they rested two key players whilst already 3 fast bowlers unavailable.

 

[Marooned]

My XI will be:

Babar
Rizwan
Fakhar
Haider(in for khushdil)
Ifti
Asif
Nawaz
Shadab
Haris
Naseem
Dahani(in for Hasnain)

Haider in because we have absolutely nothing to lose. Khushdil is the most useless of a fairly defunct MO.

I know Hasnain has a strong claim right now but Dahani has more control and better control of nerves.

 

[pakistani pride]

Its a fluke:

- Were always going to beat Hong Kong who are amateurs
- Nawaz’s innings and Arshdeep’s dropped catch won Pak the match
- Fazalhaq bowled 2 full tosses which Naseem hit for six in a freak accident. Otherwise Pakistan’s batting has been rubbish in the last 2 matches.

So yeah Pakistan are very fortunate to get to this stage. But Lanka have shown yesterday that Pak can be easily beaten.

Just lets forget how well the bowling has been. Indeed despite having no middle order Pak are in the final.

 

[Ahmed216]

We will lose this tournament because of Babar’s mind boggling selection policies. Sticking with out of form players throughout the tournament also cost us the World Cup in UAE.

 

[Shaddy86]

I have a strong feeling that Haider will come in for Khushdil who's been a complete failure apart from the Hong Kong game, which shouldn't really be considered. I'd stick with Hasnain instead even if Dahani is available. Srilankans looked troubled against Hasnains pace and his slower ones are very deceiving.

Rizwan and Fakhar have to play out of their skins to keep their tag of big match players. I sincerely hope they do so.

 

[asadee]

We will lose this tournament because of Babar’s mind boggling selection policies. Sticking with out of form players throughout the tournament also cost us the World Cup in UAE.

None of our journalists have questioned Babar over this either? I am really curious to see what his rationale for not playing Haider is

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Dahani and Haider should definitely play.

It will be a close game and InshaAllah Pakistan will emerge victorious.

Even if SL win it I won't be sad.

 

[pakpassfan]

Lankans in top form with no fear

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

I have a strong feeling that Haider will come in for Khushdil who's been a complete failure apart from the Hong Kong game, which shouldn't really be considered. I'd stick with Hasnain instead even if Dahani is available. Srilankans looked troubled against Hasnains pace and his slower ones are very deceiving.

Rizwan and Fakhar have to play out of their skins to keep their tag of big match players. I sincerely hope they do so.

Fakhar can't rotate strike to save his life. He's becoming a glorified Ahmed "more talented than Tendulkar" Shehzad.

Rizwan will play a game winning innings, InshaAllah!

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

This time, hopefully, Pak won't play mindless slogs.

Also, just don't see Babar failing with such cconsistency.

Pak must target their 5th bowler.

 

[IMMY69]

Other then this tournament, when was the last time we fielded a team without a left arm seamer?

 

[Extreme Pace]

1. Mohammed Rizwan (wk)
2. Babar Azam (c)
3. Fakhar Zaman
4. Haider Ali
5. Iftikhar Ahmed
6. Asif Ali
7. Shadab Khan
8. Mohammed Nawaz
9. Nassem Shah
10. Haris Rauf
11. Mohammed Hasnain

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Imo, it's clear that Fakhar, Khushdil, and Hasan are liabilities.

For the WC, they must be replaced. My picks would be Shan Masood and Imad for the Fakhar and Khushdil. Hasan Ali will be replaced anyway once our other bowlers are fit.

 

[DHONI183]

Asia Cup 2022 | Final | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | 11 September 2022 | Dubai | Pre-Match Thread

Regardless of how good the wicket might be tomorrow, it´s a Final after all, and I believe that anything above 165 or so will be a stiff task, especially if the team batting second are Pakistan. Besides that, I just get this feeling that the team to utilise the first six overs of the Powerplay will be much ahead in the overall contest as well, and this might just end up deciding the game.

Good luck to both the teams. Here´s hoping for a cracker of a Final to what has already been an absolutely brilliantly entertaining Asia Cup with some nail-biters of the highest order - exactly the kind of entertainment that I desperately required in life right now.

 

[Shafi]

We will lose this tournament because of Babar’s mind boggling selection policies. Sticking with out of form players throughout the tournament also cost us the World Cup in UAE.

Exactly!!! Telling same thing for a year. But need to replace that signboard coach who does nothing but pose for camera.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan ���� Head Coach, Saqlain Mushtaq talks about <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> �� and a promising Pakistani squad that is ready for anything that comes their way in the DP World <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup</a> 2022 final on Sunday against Sri Lanka ���� <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SLvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SLvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ACC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ACC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GetReadyForEpic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GetReadyForEpic</a> <a href="https://t.co/pW9nt1wLyK">pic.twitter.com/pW9nt1wLyK</a></p>— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACCMedia1/status/1568332511641759747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Unlike other posters, I believe Saqlain is doing a good job overall and in this tournament. Not great job, but good enough given the resources he has.

His job is what Shastri’s was before who also had superior resources - give team belief and fight till the last ball. That’s why Pakistan won those 2 matches in the last over.

If his best batters get into a slump, not his fault.

You can say one or two selections may be questionable but these are the best he has. If he has played Sharjeel or Kamran Ghulam or someone else in place of Fakhar, and they had failed, knives would still be out for him. When Haider had failed constantly, knives were out then too. He is no banker.

The only area of distance posters can have is on batting order. Babar and Rizwan are slow starters so should Fakhar and some unicorn swashbuckler come up the order?

But Fakhar’s form has clearly taken that equation out.

Also Pakistan is winning more than losing with this combination so makes sense to persist. Tragedy that Babar is struggling.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Dahani and Haider should definitely play.

It will be a close game and InshaAllah Pakistan will emerge victorious.

Even if SL win it I won't be sad.

Only winners can rejoice. We need a champion mentality. Be 1st or you are a loser.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

We are 2 WCs short of what we should be and 2 T20 WCs. Lot of catching up to do.

 

[Runner Up]

Lankans were not comfortable against fast bowlers so Pak should go with Hasnain, Haris, Naseem & Dahani if he is fit.

 

[moghul]

No need for Dahani , even fit. Hasnain is in great rhythm and bowling fast and accurate , doing a great job.

Three of the batsmen Fakhar, chacha and Khushdil need to be dropped, but if only one would be dropped, Khushdil should be the one, he always been useless , can play only club level bowlers .

 

[Nasty Naz]

Shahnawaz Dahani, who sustained a leg injury during Pakistan's group-stage clash against Hong Kong, has been declared fit for the final of the Asia Cup.

Wasn't it listed as a side strain earlier? Odd.

Anyways, it's probably unlikely Pakistan bring in Haider even though we all want them to. They had the perfect opportunity to test him but still refused to do it. I would still drop Khushdil for Haider though.

Sri Lanka mystery spinners are good and proved to be very troublesome so Pakistan do need some better players at more adept to spin. Khushdil is simply very bad against it and almost never attacks them either.

I would look to bring in Dahani for Hasnain too but it seems unlikely with how Hasnain has been bowling but he is often wayward & leaky. Dahani does bring some better control.

 

[PakPremi]

Exactly!!! Telling same thing for a year. But need to replace that signboard coach who does nothing but pose for camera.

Saqlain is the exact coach Pakistani players need honest, humble, and easy relationship with players giving them confidence. The issue is that Babargives too many chamces to his mates, and some of them should never be in the squad like the three KIA fake batsmen and Hasan Ali.

 

[bujhee kom]

Best of luck to both sides.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan leg-spin all-rounder Shadab Khan insists that winning against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final and claiming the trophy is the real deal for his team. The final of Asia Cup 2022, to be held at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, will see Pakistan and Sri Lanka face each other for the fourth time in the final of the multi-nation event.

While Pakistan have won three and lost two matches in the tournament so far, Sri Lanka have been on the winning side four times while losing just once. In the overall head-to-head equation in Asia Cup, Sri Lanka have won 11 matches while Pakistan have prevailed over them just five times. A win on Sunday will take Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup titles from five to six, while for Pakistan, it will increase from two to three.

“We are a great team, but in order to become a champion side, we need to win this tournament and other high-profile series. I have said before that champion teams handle pressure well and prevail in clutch moments, and this is what we will aim for on the Sunday Finale. Winning against Sri Lanka and claiming the Asia Cup title is the real deal for us!” said Shadab on the official website of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The momentum is firmly with Sri Lanka as they have emerged victorious in four of their last five contested T20Is against Pakistan. Shadab feels that Pakistan have done well to reach the final despite losing their opening match of the tournament to India by five wickets and complemented his team-mates for playing crucial roles in getting crucial wins in the tournament despite losing players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Shahnawaz Dahani before and during the tournament.

“When we lost the first match of the tournament against India, we were confident we will rise. And rise we did. Rizwan played exceptionally well against Hong Kong, followed by a comprehensive bowling display that helped us earn a confidence-boosting win. Nawaz demonstrated great all-round skills against India in the Super Four match, and although, I was the player of the match against Afghanistan, those two sixes by Naseem Shah will be eternally remembered!”

“Amidst Shaheen’s absence and some of o’r batters’ problems in searching for form, there was a general perception that Pakistan might get knocked out of the tournament at any stage. But the essence of cricket is based on teamwork and not individualism.”

“We have also observed that after the Men”s T20 World Cup 2021, various players from our team have stepped up and shown the determination to unleash their talents, making it a well-known fact that all the 11 players who take the field are match-winners.”

Shadab went on to appreciate the leadership of prolific batter Babar Azam though he himself has been short of runs in the tournament. “Babar Azam has taught us a lot, and besides the excellent team culture he has developed, I think the best facet of his leadership is the fact that he has inculcated the never give up attitude among us. Even if we find ourselves in hopeless situations, we are fully charged to fight till the last ball.”

Shadab signed off by saying that they would like to bring smiles to the faces of people badly affected by devastating floods in Pakistan by winning the Asia Cup on Sunday. “Due to the unprecedented weather conditions, one-third of Pakistan is currently underwater.”

“Since we’re away from our beloved homeland, watching the devastating calamity from afar makes it even more painful for us. We would like to win this tournament to bring lively smiles back on the faces of the people affected by the flood.”

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...tan-want-to-win-asia-cup-at-all-costs-1041187

 

[Farabi]

This will be a spin by trial on fresh pitch. I’d go with:

Babar
Rizwan
Shadab
Nawaz
Haider Ali
Fakhar Zaman
Asif A
Khushdil
Naseem
Dahani
Haris

Loading better spin players in the middle. And saving better pace players at the end.

 

[Justcrazy]

Its a fluke:

- Were always going to beat Hong Kong who are amateurs
- Nawaz’s innings and Arshdeep’s dropped catch won Pak the match
- Fazalhaq bowled 2 full tosses which Naseem hit for six in a freak accident. Otherwise Pakistan’s batting has been rubbish in the last 2 matches.

So yeah Pakistan are very fortunate to get to this stage. But Lanka have shown yesterday that Pak can be easily beaten.

Every game has certain such moments which goes either ways , that does not mean winners should not be given credit.

If we go by your logic if Gibbs had not dropped the catch Australia would not win the Cup.

These are all part of game.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I can see Theekshana running circles around Fakhar sadly.

 

[SamNJ]

Hope Rizwan and Babar take calculated risks against their pacers because it will be difficult to score against their spinners.