Pakistan (138/5) edge past Sri Lanka (133/8) by 5 wickets in Super Four clash of Asia Cup 2025

[tiger_khan]

Russell Arnold patch report : 175 pitch

not a pitch where you can race to 175, you have to grind to 175

he advised to win the toss and bat first

 

[RidiculousMan]

BPL SR of 165 and PSL SR of 147. He ll be a hot property in franchise circuit. But a flop for PCT for some reason.

Not international material. Some simply are domestic bullys

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I won't be surprised if srilanka bash these clowns badly.
Kusal mendis is important for srilanka. He spanked everyone in PSL.

Srilanka has better batsman than Pak and they can beat Pak easily.. Mendis, Perera, Nissanka , Asalanka they all can whack and have the power game... their bowling comparatively is not good this is only where Pak can exploit their fortune..

If Srilanka bat first and score 170+ then Pak chase will crumble under pressure..

 

[Ball Blazer]

- Pakistan lost last 5 T20I's against Sri Lanka

- Sri Lanka lost all T20I's against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

Ab hoga Mout ka khail

 

[Asif321]

Good Pakistan chasing . This increase our chances

 

[Ball Blazer]

Sri Lanka might need to be around the 180-190 mark to be just in front of the game.

 

[stani_pak]

Pakistan going with same team as previous match, interesting as I was suspecting 1 or 2 changes.

 

[Bhaijaan]

I want to wish my friends the best of luck for today’s match. I hope Pakistan wins and keeps their chances for the final alive.

A couple of years ago, when I was in Spain, I was working with a group of Pakistanis handling on-site operations for our company. The ICC T20 World Cup was underway in Australia, and Pakistan had made a poor start. I remember consoling them and joking with them in Punjabi as they had almost given up hope and were abusing their players. But by the time I returned to India, our team was knocked out while Pakistan had reached the final. That moment reminded me how quickly things can change and congratulated my new Pakistani friends.

You never know, India could lose the next two games while Pakistan goes on a winning streak and takes the trophy. Or maybe India makes it to the final only to have an off day against Pakistan, just like in the 2017 Champions Trophy, where we were the stronger side overall but fell short in the final.

@BouncerGuy @gazza619 @Cpt. Rishwat @Mamoon @Markhor @The Bald Eagle @Rana @shaz619 @RedwoodOriginal @HalBass9 @ElRaja @IMMY69 @Dr_Bassim @Bewal Express @KingKhanWC

 

[baba ghazi]

pakistan won the toss no excuses this time

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Uff. Batting first. Need at least 175 to compete and 190 to be sure of a win. Steep ask of this SL batting lineup

 

[Ball Blazer]

Pak vs SL Playing XIs

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt.), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

 

[Ball Blazer]

no changes for Pak.

 

[baba ghazi]

Srilanka has better batsman than Pak and they can beat Pak easily.. Mendis, Perera, Nissanka , Asalanka they all can whack and have the power game... their bowling comparatively is not good this is only where Pak can exploit their fortune..

If Srilanka bat first and score 170+ then Pak chase will crumble under pressure..

their bowling isnt that great though

 

[cricfan432]

Where is hasan nawaz? Atleast play khushdil instead of talat.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan won the toss and are fielding first.

Great toss to win. Chasing has an advantage.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Does a loss to Sri Lanka end the tournament for Pak or there will be those pesky calculations "A has to beat C & C has to win against B with a marginal NRR for Pak to qualify" kind of scenarios at play?

 

[hur rizvi]

Talat again. Guy struggles to make PSL teams is playing ahead of Hasan Nawaz

Hypocrite management

 

[PakPremi]

Why are you playing all rounders Nawaz and Talat when neither was deemed good enough to bowl last match the new strike rate mangement not playing their best strike batsman instead playing an ordinary player Talat. I thought team selections in Babar days was bad, but this has gotten worse.

 

[tiger_khan]

Same team

stakes are very high in today's game for Hesson and Agha.

if they lose today with the same team, their tenures are over.


having said that if the dew plays a role today Pak will win because Talat is not as bad of a batsman as some are projecting him

 

[hur rizvi]

no changes for Pak.

No chances either

 

[sweep_shot]

Why are you playing all rounders Nawaz and Talat when neither was deemed good enough to bowl last match the new strike rate mangement not playing their best strike batsman instead playing an ordinary player Talat.

Talat reminds me Tenda Bavuma.

 

[SherWaqar]

Another phainta incoming

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan is winning this, End of

 

[Asif321]

Hassan Nawaz should have played I guess .

 

[hur rizvi]

Irony that babar and Rizwan aren’t fit to play modern t20 but Talat and Agha are

 

[Asif321]

Does a loss to Sri Lanka end the tournament for Pak or there will be those pesky calculations "A has to beat C & C has to win against B with a marginal NRR for Pak to qualify" kind of scenarios at play?

Bangladesh has to lose both games and Srilanka has to lose vs India . Then NRR will decide

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I don't even know if chasing increases our chances as if Sri Lanka somehow gets 180, Pakistan will not be chasing it.

 

[Rana]

Talat again. Guy struggles to make PSL teams is playing ahead of Hasan Nawaz

Hypocrite management

No.

It’s a management committed to the team first

It doesn’t matter who you are.

 

[sweep_shot]

I don't even know if chasing increases our chances as if Sri Lanka somehow gets 180, Pakistan will not be chasing it.

It is easier to chase in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It was a good toss to win.

 

[ads101]

Yeah we’re favourites now this was a good toss to win.

 

[Rana]

No ifs and buts

Must win.

Our destiny in our hands.

 

[hur rizvi]

No.

It’s a management committed to the team first

It doesn’t matter who you are.

It’s a management who have no clue what they are doing

 

[saabir]

No Hasan Nawaz. Whoever is taking this decision playing accumulator Talat over Hasan needed to sack. This management is not good enough to identify the match winners

 

[sweep_shot]

No ifs and buts

Must win.

Our destiny in our hands.

Yup.

Even if Pakistan lose this, they are not out. Their qualification would be tied to NRR and other outcomes.

 

[mominsaigol]

I'm now seriously getting mad at agha.

The fact that talat is playing for nawaz?

 

[Rana]

It’s a management who have no clue what they are doing

I think they do.

It’s a fair call to drop Hassan

 

[Rana]

Yup.

Even if Pakistan lose this, they are not out. Their qualification would be tied to NRR and other outcomes.

But we don’t want to go there.

InshaAllah we will win this. Not depending on others when it’s in our control.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Fortune favoring pak. Chase to win. They got this unless SL score 200 which is unlikely against Rauf, Abrar, shaheen

 

[saabir]

Talat and Agha are both misfit in T20s. Very poor team selection

 

[sweep_shot]

I'm now seriously getting mad at agha.

The fact that talat is playing for nawaz?

Yeah. It is like South Africa selecting Temba Bavuma or SL selecting Wellelage.

Hassan Nawaz is one of the top 3 Pakistani batters now in my opinion. Dropping him for Talat makes no sense.

 

[tiger_khan]

Pakistan going with same team as previous match, interesting as I was suspecting 1 or 2 changes.

it's called corporate spite

if they made changes today, it would have meant that the management made the wrong decisions against India. they don't want to be proven wrong

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

But we don’t want to go there.

InshaAllah we will win this. Not depending on others when it’s in our control.

You can still qualify bro with 1 win.

 

[Rana]

You can still qualify bro with 1 win.

I know we can.

But why should we leave it to that?

 

[Nasty Naz]

This team deserves this when you do stupid nonsense like playing Talat for Hasan Nawaz. A think tank that lacks any thinking and is full of idiots.

 

[cricfan432]

I think they do.

It’s a fair call to drop Hassan

Hasan can come good on flat abu dhabi pitch. Wrong decision. He struggled against spinners on pitch everyone was struggling, why single him out?

 

[Rana]

Yeah we’re favourites now this was a good toss to win.

Have to restrict them below 170

 

[Usman Chadda]

You can still qualify bro with 1 win.

I think India might drop their game to Sri Lanka, so this match becomes very important to win for Pakistan

 

[sweep_shot]

Theeksana is back. So, SL's bowling has been strengthened.

 

[hur rizvi]

I think they do.

It’s a fair call to drop Hassan

Talat is not even fit for domestic t20s. His max on a good day is 115-120 s/r.

And this is a pitch where outfield is fast and doesn’t spin as much as Dubai. Sorry I fail to make sense of Talat in the team. I am no fan of Hasan Nawaz but even an Asif ali like tulla would serve Pakistans purpose better than Talat who has zero power game

I would have appreciated them if they had gone for Mirza or Wasim jnr instead of Talat at least that way they would have strengthened the bowling

 

[RidiculousMan]

I'm now seriously getting mad at agha.

The fact that talat is playing for nawaz?

God knows.

But they have clearly sent a message that they are not prioritizing modern brand of batting.

 

[BreadPakoda]

I think India might drop their game to Sri Lanka, so this match becomes very important to win for Pakistan

You mean purposely?

 

[Rana]

Talat is not even fit for domestic t20s. His max on a good day is 115-120 s/r.

And this is a pitch where outfield is fast and doesn’t spin as much as Dubai. Sorry I fail to make sense of Talat in the team. I am no fan of Hasan Nawaz but even an Asif ali like tulla would serve Pakistans purpose better than Talat who has zero power game

I would have appreciated them if they had gone for Mirza or Wasim jnr instead of Talat at least that way they would have strengthened the batting

Hassan Nawaz is not there mentally

He’s not sure what to do at the moment

He wants to blast out from ball one but is really struggling

 

[RidiculousMan]

Yeah. It is like South Africa selecting Temba Bavuma or SL selecting Wellelage.

Hassan Nawaz is one of the top 3 Pakistani batters now in my opinion. Dropping him for Talat makes no sense.

Coming into Asia Cup. He had most runs alongside Agha and most impact and highest SR in 2025.

To drop him on performance is Ridiculous. That's all I can say

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

I think India might drop their game to Sri Lanka, so this match becomes very important to win for Pakistan

Possible. All 4 teams are close on a given day in this format. Especially if you chase, almost guaranteed a win

 

[baba ghazi]

Talat is not even fit for domestic t20s. His max on a good day is 115-120 s/r.

And this is a pitch where outfield is fast and doesn’t spin as much as Dubai. Sorry I fail to make sense of Talat in the team. I am no fan of Hasan Nawaz but even an Asif ali like tulla would serve Pakistans purpose better than Talat who has zero power game

I would have appreciated them if they had gone for Mirza or Wasim jnr instead of Talat at least that way they would have strengthened the bowling

what happened to asaf ali tulla, retired?

 

[Rana]

God knows.

But they have clearly sent a message that they are not prioritizing modern brand of batting.

Nawaz is struggling big time.

Tbf this track might have suited him.

He’s been woefully out of sorts in Sharjah and Dubai

 

[RidiculousMan]

Hassan Nawaz is not there mentally

He’s not sure what to do at the moment

He wants to blast out from ball one but is really struggling

When you send him at 6 with instructions to blast after whole team shat. What would he do?

He was playing against Kuldeep for the first time and decided to take him on. Didn't pay off.

Now all of a sudden he's a non performer.

I don't understand this memory of a goldfish.

 

[SportsWarrior]

BPL SR of 165 and PSL SR of 147. He ll be a hot property in franchise circuit. But a flop for PCT for some reason.

because they are low quality franchise cricket

 

[ads101]

I'm now seriously getting mad at agha.

The fact that talat is playing for nawaz?

They won’t drop a guy and replace him with the guy they dropped originally. It makes them look dumb and they made a mistake. I’d have been surprised if Hasan came back.

Talat might do a job today he has been in good domestic form of late even if he was rubbish last match.

Bringing back hasan suddenly and bringing him back at 6 probably isn’t going to work.

They killed all momentum he had when they shifted him for 4 and stuck him at 6. Was such a bad mistake but they clearly can’t reverse that now until after Asia cup given the issues with Saim, Agha and haris right now.

 

[cricfan432]

Sad to see dropping your match winner.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Have to restrict them below 170

Nah. Chasing is way easier. I'd say closer 180. I think 190+ may be impossible. But SL are playing a batsman less.

 

[cricfan432]

When you send him at 6 with instructions to blast after whole team shat. What would he do?

He was playing against Kuldeep for the first time and decided to take him on. Didn't pay off.

Now all of a sudden he's a non performer.

I don't understand this memory of a goldfish.

Its not about 6th, who even performed on sharjah and dubai pitches, everyone struggled

 

[Devadwal]

SL need close to 180 to be competitive here . Whether they will be able to get that is another question

 

[ads101]

When you send him at 6 with instructions to blast after whole team shat. What would he do?

He was playing against Kuldeep for the first time and decided to take him on. Didn't pay off.

Now all of a sudden he's a non performer.

I don't understand this memory of a goldfish.

The moment they moved him down from 4 to 6 they ruined him. He’s now in bad form, low confidence.

I think he’ll be the same again if you put him back in the side now at 6. He’s fighting for his place again

I honestly don’t know what hesson and were thinking. I was pretty complimentary before then but they have gone crazy with selections since then. I don’t know if it’s just the pressure of tournament they abandon any long term planning.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Mendis gone

 

[RidiculousMan]

Its not about 6th, who even performed on sharjah and dubai pitches, everyone struggled

You know he's playing for the team when he hits Rashid for a six and tries to go for another in a crucial match.

Just because he failed to deliver at no. 6 in 3 matches of Asia Cup. Doesn't mean he's a bad performer all of a sudden.

Play him at 4. Should have given your best batter a chance in this Asia Cup.

 

[Devadwal]

Gone

 

[RidiculousMan]

The moment they moved him down from 4 to 6 they ruined him. He’s now in bad form, low confidence.

I think he’ll be the same again if you put him back in the side now at 6. He’s fighting for his place again

I honestly don’t know what hesson and were thinking. I was pretty complimentary before then but they have gone crazy with selections since then. I don’t know if it’s just the pressure of tournament they abandon any long term planning.

Or the only other explanation is that someone else has taken over the selection of XI.

It has happened before as well under. Mr. Mohsin's administration

 

[Devadwal]

How bad is Kusal Mendis that he is getting out to Shaheen Shah Afridi in 2025 ?

 

[BreadPakoda]

SL is so unpredictable. Looks so good at times and at other times flops badly

 

[mominsaigol]

They won’t drop a guy and replace him with the guy they dropped originally. It makes them look dumb and they made a mistake. I’d have been surprised if Hasan came back.

Talat might do a job today he has been in good domestic form of late even if he was rubbish last match.

Bringing back hasan suddenly and bringing him back at 6 probably isn’t going to work.

They killed all momentum he had when they shifted him for 4 and stuck him at 6. Was such a bad mistake but they clearly can’t reverse that now until after Asia cup given the issues with Saim, Agha and haris right now.

Then move him to no 4. Dont drop him for talat.

I actually like talat but I acknowledge that hes an odi batter not a t20 batter

 

[Rajdeep]

How is the josh @Devadwal ?

 

[sweep_shot]

Great start for Pakistan.

SL - 2/1 (0.4 over).

 

[Ali Active]

Good for pakistan to play hussain talat he will either play well or get dropped in final if pakistan reach

 

[t_kaay]

Early days but Pakistan should go for the kill if they get the chance, nrr might come into it later in the week

 

[RKhan_Cricket]

Where was this swing against India my shaheen boiiii??

 

[cricfan432]

Good toss to win, look at the swing

 

[Devadwal]

How is the josh @Devadwal ?

Very high as always

 

[Rajdeep]

Namo namo Srilankan maata

 

[gazza619]

M Haris ke haath main soorakh hai