Pakistan
Incredible Sri Lanka win Asia Cup as Pakistan collapse at final hurdle
Sri Lanka have outclassed Pakistan with the bat, outsmarted them with the ball, and outdid the Green Shirts in the field in Dubai to win the Asia Cup for the sixth time.
Batting first, Sri Lanka lost a few quick wickets before Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga came to their team's rescue.
It was the fourth Asia Cup final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In the last three, Sri Lanka won twice.
Chasing Sri Lanka's 170, Pakistan were bowled out for 147.
Mohammad Rizwan and Iftekhar Ahmed tried their best, but the other batters failed to do enough. Rizwan hit 55 and Iftikhar 32. But the only other batter who reached double-digits was Haris Rauf, usually a bowler. He made 13.
For Sri Lanka, Pramod Madushan, the right-arm pacer, took four wickets for 34 runs in four overs. Hasaranga picked up three and Chamika Karunaratne two.
Pakistan were never in a position to win the match after the first few overs of the match. They picked up some quick wickets, but Sri Lankan batting slowly crawled back to life after being temporarily frozen.
Earlier, Rajapaksa smashed an outstanding 71 off 45 balls to power Sri Lanka to 170 for six.
Put in to bat first, Sri Lanka lost five wickets in just 58 runs. Pakistan made a great start by sending three Sri Lankan batters back to the dressing room inside the powerplay.
Naseem Shah picked up Kusal Mendis in the first over. Kusal made a golden duck. Sri Lanka also lost Pathum Nissanka (8), Danushka Gunathilaka (1) and Dasun Shanaka (2) in quick succession.
Dhananjaya de Silva scored 28 to bring Sri Lanka back on track after the initial blow. Rajapaksa and Hasaranga scored 58-run on the sixth wicket.
Hasraranga fell prey to Haris Rauf for 36 off 21 balls. Chamika Karunaratne's 14-run cameo also helped the Lankans put up a good total on board.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf bagged three wickets conceding 29 runs while Naseem, Shadab Khan and Iftikhar took one wicket each.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Who will win Asia Cup Cricket 2022?
The fifteenth edition of the Asia Cup is all set to end on Sunday (September 11) with a final match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Both teams started their Asia Cup Cricket 2022 campaigns with a defeat before winning three consecutive matches to earn a spot in the final. Pakistan and Sri Lanka met each other on Friday, which was considered a dress rehearsal for the championship match. The Lankan side won the contest quite comprehensively by 5 wickets with 18 balls remaining and completed their four wins on the trot. The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka championship match preview in Asia Cup 2022 is discussed in this article.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: H2H Twenty20 International Statistics
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have often played against each other in the T20 format. Both sides have met each other on 22 occasions in the twenty20 format so far. Pakistan have led head-to-head contests with 13 wins, while Sri Lanka have won 9 matches. Overall, Pakistan have won four bilateral series, while Sri Lanka have won only one in 2019 and two ended in a draw. Let’s have a look at some notable Twenty20 International records between these two sides.
Read Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
Noteworthy Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I statistics (as on September 9, 2022)
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Matches (22)
13
9
Most Matches
Shoaib Malik (16)
Tillakaratne Dilshan (14)
Most Runs
Shoaib Malik (397)
Tillakaratne Dilshan (323)
Highest Score
Shoaib Malik (57)
Kusal Perera (84)
Most Wickets
Saeed Ajmal (14)
Lasith Malinga (16)
Best Bowling Figure (BBI)
Umar Gul (4/13)
Kaushalya Weeraratne (4/19)
Most Catches
Mohammad Hafeez (6)
Tillakaratne Dilshan (8)
Most Dismissals
Kamran Akmal (5) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (5)
Kumar Sangakkara (12)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Bangladesh women's team to play T20 World Cup qualifiers in UAE
Asia Cup Cricket 2022 Final: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Match Preview
Prior to the Asia Cup 2022, India and Pakistan were overwhelmingly favourites to be the finalists. Despite a dominant start to the tournament, India failed to live up to the expectations in the Super Four Round and finished third in the points table with one win. Pakistan, on the other hand, have shown good performances in the competition and secured a place in the final by winning two matches in the Super Four.
However, Sri Lanka have surprised everyone with their consistency and improvement since losing horribly to Afghanistan in the tournament opener. The Lankan side have remained undefeated in their last four games and finished first in the points table with three wins.
The Asia Cup Cricket 2022 final match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will start at 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) on Sunday (September 11) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both teams have played plenty of matches at this venue and have decent records.
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Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s T20I records at the DICS (as on September 9, 2022)
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Matches
31
7
Win
17
4
Loss
13
3
Highest Score
187
211
Lowest Score
74
105
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read: Asia Cup: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in dead rubber before final
Pakistan
Captain Babar Azam’s form has been the major concern for the Pakistan campaign. His last five innings were 10,9,14,0, and 30. Because of Babar's poor form with the bat, Mohammad Rizwan is carrying extra responsibility in the top order. The Pakistan captain looked solid against Sri Lanka in the last match of the Super Four round, but the strike was very poor. Besides, except for Mohammad Nawaz, Pakistan’s middle order hasn’t performed well so far in the competition. They need to find a solution to deal with the Lankan spinners in the middle-overs in the final match.
Pakistan's bowling has been impressive and contributed significantly to most of the team’s wins. Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz have all done their jobs properly and will be eager to continue their good work in the championship contest.
Probable Playing XI
Top-Order: Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman,
Middle-Order: Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan,
Lower-Order: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Live streaming TV channels, online platforms to watch from Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan team looked vulnerable in their opening match of the Asia Cup Cricket 2022. However, they made a strong comeback in their second encounter against Bangladesh to earn a place in the Super Four round. Since then, the Lankan players have shown magnificent consistency in their performances. Apparently, no major issue has appeared to be solved on the Sri Lankan side.
However, they need to be aware of the fact that Pakistan is a very dangerous limited-overs side and have the ability to destroy any opposition on their day. Sri Lanka is unlikely to make any changes for the championship game.
Probable Playing XI
Top-Order: Kusal Mendis (wicket-keeper), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka,
Middle-Order: Danushka Gunathilaka, Dasun Shanaka (captain,), Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne,
Lower-Order: Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka.
Read Asia Cup: Pakistan choose to bowl against Afghanistan in 'anybody's game'
The Weather and Pitch Report for the Asia Cup 2022 Final
Dubai's weather will be hot and sunny on Sunday, with a probability of temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees Celsius. The toss-winning captain is anticipated to chase in the championship match because fielding first has recently benefited by winning the majority of T20I matches in Dubai.
Verdict
The Sri Lankan team at the moment has the confidence in themselves to go out and perform to defeat Pakistan in the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 championship game. The Pakistani team, on the other hand, is just as competitive and capable of competing bravely against the Lankan team to win the fifteenth edition of the Asia Cup. Overall, the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final match on Sunday in Dubai promises to be an exciting one.
Asia Cup: Pakistan win thriller against Afghanistan to make the final
Pakistan made the final of the Asia Cup T20 after beating Afghanistan by one wicket in the Super 4 match in the UAE' Sharjah Wednesday.
Pakistan lost five wickets when they needed 42 runs. They lost four of them in the 18th and 19th overs while chasing a below-par total. In the last over, Pakistan needed 11 runs.
Naseem Shah hit two sixes off the first two balls of Fazalhaq Farooqi who picked up three wickets before the last over.
With Pakistan's win in today's match, Sri Lanka moved to the final after winning their first two Super 4 matches. India and Afghanistan, who lost their first two matches of the same phase, were eliminated from the race for the final.
In Wednesday's match, Pakistan won the toss and sent Afghanistan to bat first. Afghanistan were restricted to 129 for six in 20 overs.
Chasing 130, Pakistan lost their captain Babar Azam off the second ball of the innings. Fakhar Zaman also did not last long as he was run out in the fourth over.
Pakistan kept losing wickets and they were close to losing the match before two sixes of Naseem. However, Pakistan proved once again why they are called an unpredictable side.
Read: Asia Cup: Pakistan choose to bowl against Afghanistan in 'anybody's game'
Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad Malik picked up three wickets each and Rashid Khan took two.
Earlier, openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 36 runs in 3.5 overs for Afghanistan. Haris Rauf removed Gurbaz for 17 and Afghanistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Ibrahim Zadran (35 off 37) was the highest run-getter for the Afghans. Rashid Khan remained unbeaten on 18 off 15 balls with two fours and one six.
For Pakistan, Haris picked up two wickets. Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan took one wicket each.
Pakistan will now face Sri Lanka in the final on September 11.
Asia Cup: Pakistan choose to bowl against Afghanistan in 'anybody's game'
Pakistan have won the toss and chosen to bowl first in their Super 4 clash against Afghanistan in "anybody's game" in the ongoing Asia Cup today (September 7, 2022) in Sharjah.
Pakistan were outstanding in their last match against India. Afghanistan hammered Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the group phase.
"The pitch looks good and the other thing is the dew factor. So, we are bowling first. We hope to pick early wickets and restrict them to a low total," Pakistan captain Babar Azam told the media after winning the toss.
Read:Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan vs Afghanistan match live streaming details
Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who injured his knee in the last match, is playing this match.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi said they are looking forward to posting a big total.
Afghan openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have been outstanding at the Asia Cup so far.
Pakistan (Playing XI)
Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, and Naseem Shah
Read:Pakistan one win away from securing final in Asia Cup 2022
Afghanistan (Playing XI)
Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, and Fazalhaq Farooqi
Dahani ruled out of Pakistan match against India in Super 4
Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani was ruled out of Pakistan’s opening Super 4 game in the Asia Cup against India on Sunday because of a suspected side strain.
Dahani is the third Pakistan paceman sidelined with injury after ace fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi missed the Asia Cup because of a knee problem and Mohammad Wasim Junior because of a side strain.
Dahani was 0-29 in Pakistan’s five-wicket loss to India in the group stage before both teams qualified for the Super 4.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said Saturday that Dahani picked up the injury during Pakistan’s 155-run win over Hong Kong at Sharjah on Friday after the fast bowler took 1-7 off his two overs.
Read: Greatest cricket rivalry: India meet Pakistan at Asia Cup
“The medical team will monitor Dahani for the next 48-72 hours, following which they will make decisions, including carrying out a scan and further participation in the tournament,” the cricket board said in a statement.
Pakistan could bring in either Mohammad Hasnain or Hasan Ali in the playing XI on Sunday. Both Hasnain and Hasan have not yet played a game in the Asia Cup and were drafted in the squad after injuries to Afridi and Wasim.
Over 6.4 million in 'dire need' after unprecedented Pakistan floods
The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan is unprecedented, with a third of the country under water, the UN said Friday.
More than 33 million people, 15 percent of the total Pakistani population, have been affected, Dr Palitha Mahipala, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in the country, said. "More than 6.4 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid."
In the past few weeks, record monsoon rains dumped more than five times the 30-year average for rainfall in some provinces, killing more than 1,200 people and injuring over 6,000 since June.
As rains continue and flooding is likely to worsen over the coming days, there is an urgent need to scale up disease surveillance, restore damaged health facilities, and ensure sufficient medicines and health supplies to affected communities.
Read: Pakistan fatal flooding has hallmarks of warming
"Affected people have told our staff on the ground about their traumatic and scarring experiences as rain and floodwaters swept away their possessions in minutes," Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, said.
Torrential monsoon rainfall has caused the River Indus to overflow, submerging land for tens of kilometres wide, according to recent images from the European Space Agency.
Crops and livestock have been lost, having a significant impact on both livelihood and nutrition of afflicted communities.
Pakistan, which is already facing political and economic turmoil, has been thrown into the front line of the human-induced climate crisis. The South Asian country of 220 million people faced dramatic weather conditions this year, from record heatwaves to deadly floods.
Pakistan is home to more glaciers than anywhere outside the polar areas. Global warming makes the country more vulnerable to sudden outbursts of melting glacier water, according to the Meteorological Department in Islamabad.
Aid pours into Pakistan; deaths from floods cross 1,200 mark
Planes carrying fresh supplies are surging across a humanitarian air bridge to flood-ravaged Pakistan as the death toll surged past 1,200, officials said Friday, with families and children at special risk of disease and homelessness.
The ninth flight from the United Arab Emirates and the first from Uzbekistan were the latest to land in Islamabad overnight as a military-backed rescue operation elsewhere in the country reached more of the 3 million people affected by the disaster.
Two more planes from U.A.E and Qatar with aid will arrive in Pakistan later Friday, and a Turkish train carrying relief goods for flood victims was on its way to the impoverished nation, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Read: UN seeks $160 million in emergency aid for Pakistan floods
Meanwhile, a Turkish delegation headed by Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to convey his condolences to him over damages caused by floods. Multiple officials blamed the unusual monsoon and flooding on climate change, including U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who earlier this week called on the world to stop “sleepwalking” through the deadly crisis.
Guterres will visit Pakistan on Sept. 9 to tour flood-hit areas and meet with officials.
In a statement Friday, the U.N. refugee agency said although the outcome of Tuesday’s funding appeal from the U.N. was “very encouraging," more help is needed.
UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said they were quickly releasing tents, as well as blankets, plastic sheets, buckets and other household items for flood victims.
“Our staff in the country report that the scale of the devastation that people face is unimaginable," he said.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that the planes brought food items, medicine and tents. Sharif had planned to travel to UAE on Saturday, but he postponed the trip to visit flood-hit areas at home.
So far, Pakistan has received aid from China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Uzbekistan, U.A.E. and some other countries. This week, the United States also announced to provide $30 million worth of aid for the flood victims.
Read: Pakistan fatal flooding has hallmarks of warming
Pakistan blames climate change for the recent heavy monsoon rains that triggered floods.
Asim Iftikhar, the spokesman at Foreign Ministry, said at a news briefing the previous day that the crisis has lent credibility to climate change warnings from scientists.
“This is not a conspiracy, this is a reality and we need to be mindful," he said.
According to initial government estimates, the devastation has caused $10 billion in damages.
Since 1959, Pakistan has emitted about 0.4% of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, compared to 21.5% by the United States and 16.4% by China, according to scientists and experts. Pakistani officials and experts say there’s been a 400% increase in average rainfall in Pakistan's areas like Baluchistan and Sindh, which led to the extreme flooding.
Earlier this week, the United Nations and Pakistan jointly issued an appeal for $160 million in emergency funding to help the 3.3 million people affected by floods that have damaged over 1 million homes.
On Friday, authorities were warning people in the district of Dadu in the southern Sindh province to move to safer places ahead of floodwater from the swollen Indus river that's expected to hit the region this week.
In May, some parts of Sindh were the hottest place in Pakistan. Now people are facing floods there that have caused an outbreak of waterborne diseases. Although flood waters continued to recede in most of the country, many districts in Sindh remained underwater.
Farah Naureen, the director for Pakistan at the international aid agency Mercy Corps, told The Associated Press that around 73,000 women will be giving birth within the next month, and they needed skilled birth attendants, privacy, and birth facilities. Otherwise, she said, the survival of the mother and the newborn will be at risk.
According to the military, rescuers, backed by troops, resumed rescue and relief operations early Friday. Rescuers are mostly using boats, but helicopters are also flying to evacuate stranded people from remote flood-hit towns, villages and districts across Pakistan areas and deliver food to them.
Since mid-June, floods have also killed 733,488 goats, cows, and buffaloes apart from damaging crops. It forced Pakistan's government to start importing vegetables to avoid a shortage of food. Pakistan is also in contact with Russia to import wheat, as floods destroyed grains stored by many villagers in homes to meet their whole year's needs.
Over 33 mln people, 72 districts of Pakistan affected by floods
Over 33 million people and 72 districts have been affected by the ongoing calamity of floods in Pakistan caused by this season's monsoon rains started in mid-June, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.
According to a report released by the NDMA late Sunday night, the country's southern Sindh province remained the worst-hit region as 23 of its districts and over 14.5 million people have been affected by the floods.
The report added that southwest Balochistan was the second most affected province, with more than 9 million of its population and 31 districts suffered.
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The country suffered a 188 percent increase in rainfall throughout this season till Aug. 28, in comparison to the average rainfall over the last three decades, the report said, adding that the 30-year-average rainfall in Pakistan had been 135mm while during this monsoon it went up to 390mm.
The NDMA said that Sindh province recorded a 470 percent increase in rainfall, with 697mm this season compared to 122mm of average rainfall in the last 30 years, followed by Balochistan province which witnessed a 411 percent increase.
India hold their nerve to edge Pakistan in Asia Cup thriller
India beat their arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets with two balls remaining in a thrilling finish to their opening fixture in the Asia Cup on Sunday night in Dubai.
Pakistan batted first and posted a moderate total of 147 for all wickets. In reply, India chased the total in the last over with five wickets in hand. Hardik Pandya displayed outstanding all-round performance to win the game for India. He bagged three wickets and smashed an unbeaten 33 to finish the match.
India needed 51 runs in the last 30 balls. They managed to score only 35 runs in the previous five overs— from 10 to 15 overs— with six wickets in hand.
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja kept scoring runs and kept India alive in the match very well. In the 16th, 17th and 18th overs, India scored 9, 10 and 11 respectively.
In the last two overs, they needed 21 runs. Pandya smashed Haris Rauf for three fours in the 19th over, and India needed only seven off the last over.
Mohammad Nawaz, the most successful bowler of Pakistan in the match, removed Jadeja from the first ball of the last over. Jadeja made 35 off 29 balls.
But it was Pandya who finished the game in style hitting Nawaz for a six over the long-on when India required only six off the last two balls.
Read: Asia Cup 2022: How Bangladesh can defeat a confident Afghanistan team
Eventually, India won the match by five wickets. Pandya remained unbeaten for 33 off 17 balls. He hit four fours and one six.
India’s best scorer was Virat Kohli with 35 off 34 balls. Once again, it was not an ideal Virat-like innings. The right-handed batter has been suffering from poor from for a while now, and it was just another poor innings from the master.
Pakistan made a good start when Naseem Shah removed Lokesh Rahul for a duck. But Pakistan failed to continue putting pressure on the Indian batting line. For them, Nawaz bagged three wickets for 33 runs and Naseem took two.
Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pakistan made an eventful start by getting two reviews to them in the first over of the match.
Babar Azam, the Pakistan captain, played a couple of glorious shots before getting dismissed by Bhuvneshwar. Fakhar Zaman made a good start but failed to continue on it. He walked off the field after making a nick when no Indian appealed for it.
Mohammad Rizwan made was firm at the other end of the wicket. He made 43 off 42 balls. He was about to accelerate the innings, but at that moment, he was sent back by Pandya.
Iftikhar Ahmed made 28 off 22 balls. However, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan and Asif Ali failed to deliver in the high-octane match.
The last batter Shahnawaz Dahani made 16 off just 6 balls with two sixes.
For India, Bhuvneshwar was the best bowler taking four wickets for 26 in four overs while Pandya scalped three four 25 in four overs as well.
Before this match, India and Pakistan faced each others in nine T20Is with India winning six and Pakistan two— one match was tied.
Pakistan flooding deaths pass 1,000 in 'climate catastrophe'
Deaths from widespread flooding in Pakistan topped 1,000 since mid-June, officials said Sunday, as the country’s climate minister called the deadly monsoon season “a serious climate catastrophe.”
Flash flooding from the heavy rains has washed away villages and crops as soldiers and rescue workers evacuated stranded residents to the safety of relief camps and provided food to thousands of displaced Pakistanis.
Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority reported the death toll since the monsoon season began earlier than normal this year — in mid- June — reached 1,033 people after new fatalities were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Sindh provinces.
Sherry Rehman, a Pakistani senator and the country's top climate official, said in a video posted on Twitter that Pakistan is experiencing a “serious climate catastrophe, one of the hardest in the decade.”
“We are at the moment at the ground zero of the front line of extreme weather events, in an unrelenting cascade of heatwaves, forest fires, flash floods, multiple glacial lake outbursts, flood events and now the monster monsoon of the decade is wreaking non-stop havoc throughout the country," she said. The on-camera statement was retweeted by the country’s ambassador to the European Union.
Read: Pakistan seeks international help for flood victims
Flooding from the Swat River overnight affected northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where tens of thousands of people — especially in the Charsadda and Nowshehra districts — have been evacuated from their homes to relief camps set up in government buildings. Many have also taken shelter on roadsides, said Kamran Bangash, a spokesperson for the provincial government.
The unprecedented monsoon season has affected all four of the country's provinces. Nearly 300,000 homes have been destroyed, numerous roads rendered impassable and electricity outages have been widespread, affecting millions of people.
Rehman told Turkish news outlet TRT World that by the time the rains recede, "we could well have one fourth or one third of Pakistan under water.”
“This is something that is a global crisis and of course we will need better planning and sustainable development on the ground. ... We’ll need to have climate resilient crops as well as structures,” she said.
The government has deployed soldiers to help civilian authorities in rescue and relief operations across the country.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani army said in a statement it airlifted a 22 tourists trapped in a valley in the country's north to safety.