Pakistan, which had a shaky start to the T20 Asia Cup, 2025 after suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India, will face Sri Lanka in the third match of the Super 4 stage of the tournament at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi today.
It is a do or die match for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which will have to win today’s clash in order to qualify for the final; otherwise they will have to wait for the results of other teams’ matches.
Pakistan has already lost to India twice.
The top two teams from the round-robin style Super Fours will qualify for the final in Dubai on Sunday.
Bangladesh and India, the other Super Fours teams, each has two points on the board after their respective wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively.
Sri Lanka, which has won the title six times, were beaten by the Bengal Tigers by four wickets in a closely fought match on Saturday, while Pakistan were handed a second defeat in eight days at the hands of India on Sunday.
This was Pakistan’s first defeat in the Super 4 stage.
After being put in to bat, Pakistan scored 171 for five in their 20 overs.
Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with a 45-ball 58, hitting five fours and three sixes.
He added 21 runs for the first wicket with Fakhar Zaman (15, 9b, 3x4s) and then shared a 72-run stand for the second wicket with Saim Ayub (21, 17b, 1×4, 1×6).
Both teams’ squads for today’s match
Sri Lanka
Charith Asalanka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana
Pakistan
Salman Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
