After a thrilling group phase in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022, four teams have secured a place in the Super Four round. The teams that have qualified for the next round are: India, Pakistan from group A and Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka from group B. The complete fixtures of the Super four phase and which teams are in the best shape to advance to the championship match are discussed in this article.
The Complete Super Four Fixtures for the Asia Cup 2022
The organizer didn't include any days off after the group stage when making the tournament schedule. Therefore, the thrilling Super Four phase of the Asia Cup 2022 is scheduled to begin on Saturday (September 3). Every Super Four game will start at 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
India finished first in group A after winning both of their fixtures against Pakistan and Hong Kong, respectively. Pakistan finished second in group A with a thumping 155-run victory over Hong Kong in Sharjah on Friday (September 2).
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In group B, Afghanistan finished top with two dominating victories over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, respectively. Sri Lanka managed to finish second in the group with a 2-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai.
The 2022 Asia Cup Cricket Super Four Round Fixtures
Date |
Match |
Venue |
September 3 (Saturday) |
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
September 4 (Sunday) |
India vs Pakistan |
Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
September 6 (Tuesday) |
India vs Sri Lanka |
Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
September 7 (Wednesday) |
Afghanistan vs Pakistan |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
September 8 (Thursday) |
India vs Afghanistan |
Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
September 9 (Friday) |
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka |
Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
September 11 (Sunday) |
Final |
Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
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Who are the favourites to reach the 2022 Asia Cup cricket final?
The Afghanistan national men’s T20 cricket team has shown real promise in the ongoing event by overcoming Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in their group B fixtures. India, on the other hand, breezed through their group A matches. Let’s take a look at which teams have the best chance to secure a place in the final.
India
India is the best team in the tournament given their overall strength in the squad. The team is in the best shape at the moment, especially after two satisfying performances. The Indian Twenty20 reserve side is as strong as the main team. Besides, they have a firm T20 head-to-head record over their next round opponents. India will likely dominate the Super four round fixtures in their quest for a final berth.
India’s H2H records (T20I) over Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan (as on September 3, 2022)
Opposition |
Matches |
Win |
Loss |
Pakistan |
10 |
7 |
2 |
Sri Lanka |
25 |
17 |
7 |
Afghanistan |
3 |
3 |
0 |
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
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Pakistan
Pakistan’s group stage match against India was a tight one, which they lost by 5 wickets in the final over. However, Pakistan made a strong comeback in their second fixture of the tournament against Hong Kong. They beat the Hong Kong side by 155 runs, which is the second biggest margin of victory among the ICC full members. Pakistan’s performance in the Super Four round is expected to be even better. They will be second favourites to qualify for the final.
Afghanistan
The Afghan side has stunned everyone with their commanding display in the competition. The team seems to have the right balance to upset big teams on any given day. Afghanistan’s bowling department is one of the best in the world. It’s not just their spinners who have put the opposition under pressure; their fast bowlers are equally up to the task at the moment.
Their batters are aggressive in nature. They have the ability to shift gears at any moment of the game, as witnessed in the contest against Bangladesh. If any team other than India and Pakistan deserves to play the final, it would be Afghanistan.
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Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan team fought hard against a wounded Bangladesh side to secure their place in the next round. This Lankan T20 side is young and inexperienced, so playing against stronger opponents will be a valuable learning experience for them. Sri Lanka’s primary aim will be to beat Afghanistan in the Super Four phase. Besides, they will try to upset India and Pakistan, but given their current form, it would be a hard task.
Verdict
As per Super 4 fixtures of the Asia Cup 2022, Sharjah Cricket Ground will host two matches in this phase, while Dubai will host the remaining matches, including the final on September 11. This round will begin with a match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan on Saturday. India and Pakistan will start the Super Four phase as favourites to qualify for the championship match. However, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will not give the two Asian heavyweights an easy time without putting up a good fight.
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