DUBAI: Before the final of the Asian Cup 2022 against Pakistan, the captain of Sri Lanka Dasun Shanaka said the team are very excited to play in the top-flight clash and as a team it is one of his country’s best Asian Cup outings.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan will face off in the 2022 Asian Cup final in Dubai on Sunday.
“As a team we are very excited to play the final, and Pakistan are a very good team, all the games were tough and we are looking forward to the final,” Shanaka told the media ahead of the final.
“As a tournament, looking back, it was one of the best Asian Cups we’ve had, and we’re looking forward to the final,” he added.
Sri Lanka have won the Asian Cup five times. They won the tournament in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008 and 2014. They are the second most successful team in the history of the tournament, after India, who have won seven titles.
Sri Lanka started their 2022 Asian Cup campaign on a low note with a loss to Afghanistan by five wickets. But they bounced back in their next group game, beating Bangladesh by two wickets in a thriller, advancing to the Super Four stage of the tournament.
Sri Lanka rode a dominant run in the Super Four stage, outplaying their competition in hard-fought matches. They started this phase with a four-wicket win against Afghanistan. Then they overcame India by six wickets in a final thriller. In their last Super Four stage match, they beat Pakistan by five wickets.
They finished the Super Four stage at the top of the standings with three wins from three games.
Opener Pathum Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s top scorer in this tournament. He scored 165 carries at an average of 41.25. He scored two half centuries, with the best score of 55*.
Average pace Dilshan Madushanka is Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, having won six wickets in five games with an average of 21.83 and a save rate of 7.70. His best bowling tricks of 3/24.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan will face off in the 2022 Asian Cup final in Dubai on Sunday.
“As a team we are very excited to play the final, and Pakistan are a very good team, all the games were tough and we are looking forward to the final,” Shanaka told the media ahead of the final.
“As a tournament, looking back, it was one of the best Asian Cups we’ve had, and we’re looking forward to the final,” he added.
Sri Lanka have won the Asian Cup five times. They won the tournament in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008 and 2014. They are the second most successful team in the history of the tournament, after India, who have won seven titles.
Sri Lanka started their 2022 Asian Cup campaign on a low note with a loss to Afghanistan by five wickets. But they bounced back in their next group game, beating Bangladesh by two wickets in a thriller, advancing to the Super Four stage of the tournament.
Sri Lanka rode a dominant run in the Super Four stage, outplaying their competition in hard-fought matches. They started this phase with a four-wicket win against Afghanistan. Then they overcame India by six wickets in a final thriller. In their last Super Four stage match, they beat Pakistan by five wickets.
They finished the Super Four stage at the top of the standings with three wins from three games.
Opener Pathum Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s top scorer in this tournament. He scored 165 carries at an average of 41.25. He scored two half centuries, with the best score of 55*.
Average pace Dilshan Madushanka is Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, having won six wickets in five games with an average of 21.83 and a save rate of 7.70. His best bowling tricks of 3/24.