After Pakistan elected to bat on another rain-affected day, Abdullah Shafique (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (86 not out) each scored fifty to lead the team to a respectable 252 for 7 off 42 overs.

Sri Lanka responded in kind through Mendis and Asalanka as they inched past the target off the final delivery of the match, thereby preventing an Indo-Pakistan summit clash.

The championship match will be contested on Sunday.

Sri Lanka’s chase was quite extraordinary, especially given that Pakistan’s pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf were out with injuries.

The 57-run partnership between Mendis and Pathum Nissanka (29) stabilized the Sri Lankan innings after Kusal Perera’s early departure.

Despite Nissanka’s return catch to Shadab Khan, the Lankans were about to embark on an even more advantageous passage.

Lanka progressively closed the gap as Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48 off 51 balls) added 100 runs for the third wicket.

Mendis is endowed with natural striking prowess and coordination, as demonstrated by his blow. The right-handed batsman utilized his feet effectively against spinners and confronted the faster bowlers with confidence.

Samarawickrama kept his end running despite being struck on the head by Shaheen Afridi once with a cricket ball.

However, a brief hurry ended his stay. Iftikhar’s slightly fuller-length delivery found him in no-man’s land, and Rizwan made a simple stumping.

Mendis and Asalanka scored an additional 33 runs before Iftikhar returned to dismiss him.

Mendis’ attempt to deflect the ball off his pads resulted in a leading edge, which Mohamamd Harris captured magnificently with a diving catch.

After losing four wickets in consecutive overs, Sri Lanka appeared to be on the precipice of bungling the chase.

During that phase, Afridi took two wickets with consecutive deliveries. But Asalanka maintained his composure in the final over to propel his team to victory.

Shafique and Rizwan supported Pakistan’s innings earlier with fifty-plus scores. Iftikhar Ahmed added a late surge for Pakistan (47 runs off 40 balls).

After the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan gained some early momentum through Shafique and captain Babar Azam despite the unforgiving batting surface.

Shafique and Babar scored 64 runs in approximately 11 overs. Shafique scored runs in a more conventional manner, and his cover drive off of fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was a site for sore eyes.

Just as the second wicket partnership was beginning to flourish, Dunith Wellalage shattered it. The left-arm spinner, who nabbed five top-order batsmen against India on Tuesday, this time weaved his magic around Babar.

Babar believed the ball was coming into him when it pitched outside his off-stump, so he played for spin. However, the ball moved away from him, allowing Mendis to complete a quick stumping.

Babar’s dismissal precipitated a mini-collapse for Pakistan, which lost three more wickets for 30 runs in six overs.

At 130 for five, they were in danger of being dismissed for a below-par total as the Sri Lankan spinners attempted to dominate the middle overs, as they had against India.

However, Rizwan and Iftikhar demolished their aspirations during an entertaining 108-run sixth-wicket stand.

In fact, Pakistan added 102 runs in the last 10 overs, between overs 32 and 42, as Rizwan and Iftikhar attacked Sri Lankan bowlers.

Rizwan, a veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, had not been scoring runs of late, so he chose the ideal time to do so.

ALSO READ : Asia Cup: Pakistan or Sri Lanka | Who Will Play Final Against India?

Rizwan’s innings was typical, beginning at a slower pace and culminating with a series of towering smashes through the on-side.

Iftikhar has a simple mindset as a batsman, as he attempts to smash every ball that comes his way out of the ground. The right-handed batsman employed a similar strategy here.

Iftikhar and Rizwan led Pakistan to a respectable total, but they were unable to withstand the Sri Lankans’ resolve.

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There have been victories defending both large and small totals, on varying terrains, and not always through predictable means. To accomplish all of this in two matches on three consecutive days against Pakistan and Sri Lanka — who were nearly guided home by Dunith Wellalage’s all-round effort of 5/40 and a valiant, unbeaten 42 — is no small feat, particularly for a team with so many personnel changes.

Here is India’s current achievement report: On two distinct pitches, the openers and middle order have received a comprehensive, staggered workout. Except for Suryakumar Yadav, all boxes have been checked while India has tinkered with its middle order. Shreyas Iyer played, but a back spasm hindered his development. KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan batted at No. 4 on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

Bowlers have also flourished in unexpected ways. On a pitch that favored seamers, Kuldeep Yadav circumnavigated Pakistan and took five wickets. On a sticky, two-paced pitch ideal for spinners, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj removed Sri Lanka’s top three batsmen before India deployed two sluggish left-arm bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, along with Kuldeep, for a 41-run victory.

A 63-run seventh-wicket stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Wellalage, who were devoting themselves and judiciously dissecting the gaps, brought the match closer than the scorecard indicated. But Jadeja provided a timely breakthrough, luring de Silva (who had one eye on the D/L par score) into choosing Shubman Gill at mid-on. Kuldeep was once again the most effective bowler, returning 4/43 despite a late lapse in discipline.

When Sri Lanka attempted to recover after losing three wickets in rapid succession, Kuldeep thwarted their efforts by having Sadeera Samarawickrama caught lbw by Rahul. The manner in which Rahul pounced to take a one-handed catch of Charith Asalanka demonstrated how well he is progressing as a wicketkeeper. Dasun Shanaka was caught by Rohit at first slip off Jadeja, and Sri Lanka appeared to be on the verge of extinction at 99/6.

This occurred after Bumrah had already caused early damage. Pathum Nissanka’s precise drive off Bumrah that yielded a boundary was one of the few highlights of his brief innings. Two balls later however, Bumrah made the ball angle into him before it straightened, taking an edge off Nissanka’s feeble drive to a diving Rahul. Siraj lured Dimuth Karunaratne into a flashy cut, which Shubman Gill did well to catch at first slip, but Kusal Mendis was always the prized scalp, particularly at home.

Mendis was looking in ominous form on what was obviously a difficult pitch under lights and a fresh spell of shower. There were a few fours, including a top-edge off Bumrah that was followed by a six over midwicket, but what the India pacer did next was nothing short of brilliant. It was indeed a slower dipper, but it was pitched almost at blockhole length, compelling Mendis to jab it out and toss it to Suryakumar, who had replaced Siraj, at cover, reducing Sri Lanka to 25/2.

As much as this victory should boost India’s confidence, it should not obscure their glaring weaknesses against spinners. Dunith Wellalage returning 5/40 is a clear indication that the left-arm slow bowler to right-handed batter matchup is poised to keep India on their toes.

Worrisome is the fact that the majority of India’s specialist batsmen approached Sri Lanka on a pitch loaded in favor of slow bowlers with hard hands and shaky frontfoot work.

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Rohit Sharma, the only batter to reach fifty, was unfortunate to have a Wellalage delivery scoot and remain low after pitching, whereas Gill was nowhere near the pitch of a delivery that spun past his outside edge. Virat Kohli fell while attempting to dislodge him from his leg, Hardik Pandya was bowled by an outgoing delivery similar to Gill, and Rahul was caught and bowled while attempting a backfoot strike. The only consolation was that Rahul appeared the most composed Indian batsman against Sri Lanka’s sluggish bowlers while he was batting.

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Shakib Al Hasan and company failed with the bat once more as Sri Lanka recorded their 13th consecutive victory in one-day internationals. Shakib Al Hasan and company had lost by seven wickets to Pakistan in the opening match of the Super Four stage.

In response to a request to bat first, the hosts posted a respectable total of 257/9, with No. 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama scoring 93 off 72 balls. In response, the visitors batted for nearly the duration of the match before being bowled out for 236 in 48.1 overs.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis added 74 runs to Sri Lanka’s score after the loss of senior opener Dimuth Karunaratne early in its innings. Mendis scored a half-century before the defending champions lost four wickets for 56 runs after a brief collapse.

Samarawickrama, however, held the fort and pieced together a crucial 60-run partnership with captain Dasun Shanaka. The right-handed batsman, who hit eight fours and two sixes, was not out until the final delivery of the innings. Earlier in the competition, he had scored a fifty against Bangladesh.

Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud each claimed three wickets for Bangladesh, but they were also costly.

Thanks to openers Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh’s pursuit got off to a good start and they were 55 without loss after 11 overs. Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim fought back with a 72-run partnership after losing four wickets for a total of 28 runs.

ALSO READ : SL vs BAN Dream11 Prediction, Playing XI, Pitch Report, H2H Records, Fantasy Picks | Asia Cup 2023

Sri Lanka scored 81 runs in their final 10 overs, leaving Bangladesh with the exact equation to win. In the 44th over, however, Maheesh Theekshana took two wickets, including the crucial one of Hridoy, to set his team on the path to victory. Hridoy ended his innings with seven fours and a six, while the rest of the Bangladesh batting lineup combined for only eight fours and a six.

The off-spinner Theekshana and fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana each took three wickets, but captain Shanaka (3/28) was the most effective bowler. Early in the game, the 32-year-old all-rounder, who has labored with the bat in this tournament, produced crucial breakthroughs with the ball.

By defeating India, Bangladesh can now complete the Super Four with a maximum of two points. If they succeed, there will be two paths for them to qualify for the final: Pakistan must remain undefeated and India must defeat Sri Lanka, which would leave Pakistan with six points and the other teams with two. Or Sri Lanka could remain unbeaten and India would defeat Pakistan, giving Sri Lanka six points and the other teams two. In both scenarios, Bangladesh will obviously require a favorable net run rate.

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Until he was deemed superfluous to requirements during the World Cup year, Dhawan was an integral member of India’s leadership group. Following the international debuts of youthful openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, Dhawan was relegated to the background, and his lackluster performance in One-Day Internationals led to his dismissal from the national team. Last year, Dhawan had a strike rate of 74.21 despite averaging just 34.40.

Dhawan drops special message for Rohit’s men

On Tuesday, when India announced its World Cup roster, Dhawan offered his support to his erstwhile teammates on the national team. The 37-year-old shared a special message on X (formerly known as Twitter) in which he supported Rohit and company to win the World Cup at home. “Congratulations to my teammates and colleagues who have been selected to represent India in the World Cup 2023! With the support of 1.5 billion people and their prayers, you carry our aspirations and dreams. May you return with the trophy and make us pleased! Go for broke, India! “#ChakDePhatte #WorldCup,” tweeted an Indian cricketer. Dhawan’s social media post was an instant hit with his admirers.

Congratulations to my fellow team mates & friends chosen to represent India in the WC 2023 tournament! With the prayers and support of 1.5 billion people, you carry our hopes and dreams.
May you bring the cup back home 🏆 and make us proud! Go all out, Team India! 🇮🇳… https://t.co/WbVmD0Fsl5

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) September 6, 2023

Rahul retains place in India’s squad

ALSO READ : IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Match Prediction, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, H2H Record, Fantasy Picks

Talking about India’s 15-member squad, versatile batsman KL Rahul retained his place on the roster despite not playing international cricket since May. Recently, the Indian batter was deemed healthy by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. Rahul was suffering from a minor ailment when he was included in India’s Asia Cup squad.

Congratulations to my fellow team mates & friends chosen to represent India in the WC 2023 tournament! With the prayers and support of 1.5 billion people, you carry our hopes and dreams.
May you bring the cup back home 🏆 and make us proud! Go all out, Team India! 🇮🇳… https://t.co/WbVmD0Fsl5

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) September 6, 2023

The vacuum left by Rahul was filled by Ishan Kishan, who scored 82 not out against Pakistan in India’s Asia Cup opener. Rahul and Kishan were retained by India’s World Cup selectors, while Tilak Verma and Prasidh Krishna were omitted. Sanju Samson, who served as Rahul’s reserve at the Asia Cup, was also omitted from India’s World Cup squad.

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An on-form Pandya hit a six in the final over to secure Team India’s victory over Pakistan in the thrilling match. The star all-rounder was dubbed the match’s Most Valuable Player for his all-around performance. In Group A of the Asia Cup 2022 between India and Pakistan, Pandya remained unbeaten with 33 runs off 17 deliveries. A year after leading India to a memorable victory over the Green Army, Pandya is returning to the Asia Cup as India’s vice-captain.

Need #HardikPandya type of confidence in life. #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/C0L92yHUsg

— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) August 28, 2022

‘A lot of emotions are attached by fans’

In an interview with Star Sports prior to India’s Asia Cup 2023 opener against Pakistan, all-rounder Pandya played down the Indo-Pak fervor surrounding the continental tournament. The 29-year-old stated that players avoid letting their emotions get the best of them during high-stakes contests between the two teams. “Fans attribute a variety of sentiments. For us, it is about facing a strong opponent, a team that has performed exceptionally well in recent years. A couple of finals have been played by them, and the tension between us is perpetual. Pandya stated, “We try to keep outside distractions at bay and concentrate on playing good cricket.”

The moment all #TeamIndia fans screamed in joy! 😍

Let us know how you celebrated @hardikpandya7's winning hit & catch him in action #INDvHKG in DP World #AsiaCup2022 on Aug 31.#BelieveInBlue #GreatestRivalry #INDvPAK #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/tEJQtHjxkn

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 29, 2022

We can’t get too emotional about it because…’

ALSO READ : PAK vs NEP ASIA CUP 2023 Dream11 Prediction, Pitch Report, Playing XI, Top Fantasy Picks

According to Pandya, India’s matches against Pakistan will test the players’ character and demeanor as they prepare for the ICC World Cup. “In the end, we are cricket players. We cannot let our emotions get the best of us, as this could lead to irresponsible decisions, which I do not support. At the same time, however, it is a mega event. I’ve observed how this event tests your demeanor and character, as well as your ability to swim in deep water. All of these variables excite me greatly, and I cannot wait,” Pandya said.

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The last time India won the World Cup was when the Men in Blue hosted the 50-over competition. The cricket powerhouse is also anxious to end its trophy drought in domestic ICC competitions. In the absence of premier batsmen Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, an injury-plagued squad competed in the ICC World Test Championship final. Though India will be without Pant for the remainder of the 2023 season, the ODI World Cup holders remain hopeful that superstars Iyer and Rahul will return from lengthy injury layoffs to bolster India’s squad.

‘After Yuvi, nobody has come and settled down’

Speaking on the margins of a La Liga event in Mumbai, India’s captain Rohit discussed India’s No. 4 batting dilemma and gave legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh an honourable mention. “As you can see, No. 4 has been a problem for us for a long time. No one has settled in after Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh). “However, Shreyas has batted there for a long time and performed well; his statistics are outstanding,” Rohit said.

‘Injuries have given Iyer a bit of trouble’

Iyer was ruled out of the ODI series against Australia due to an ongoing back injury. The star batsman had back surgery in London earlier this year, and the middle-order player missed the WTC final against Australia. The 28-year-old last played an ODI for India in January at the Greenfield International Stadium against Sri Lanka.

ALSO READ : My ODI numbers are very poor and there is no shame in accepting it: Suryakumar Yadav

“Unfortunately, ailments have caused him some difficulty. In all honesty, this is what has transpired over the past four to five years. Many of these men have been injured, and there is always a new player on the pitch. “Therefore, no one has been able to settle down, and once someone becomes fit, he assumes that position,” Rohit explained.

The post Rohit Sharma: ‘After Yuvraj Singh, nobody has…’ on India’s Achilles heel before Asia Cup. appeared first on Republic Aeon.

The epic clash between the two bitter adversaries takes place in Kandy, while co-hosts Pakistan and Nepal face off in the tournament’s opening match on August 30. The championship is held on September 17 in Colombo. In the 2023 ODI edition, India, Pakistan, and Nepal are placed in Group A, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are placed in Group B.

It will be the first time that two countries will co-host the Asia Cup.Pakistan will hold four matches, while Sri Lanka will host the remaining nine. In addition, this is the first Asia Cup tournament to be held on the subcontinent since Bangladesh hosted the 2016 tournament. Since then, the 2018 and 2022 Asia Cups have been held in the United Arab Emirates.

Asia Cup 2023 Complete Schedule

Similar to the 2022 tournament, the top two teams will qualify for the Super Fours, where each team will play each other once. The top two teams will qualify for the championship game. India and Pakistan could meet three times within a two-week period during the 2023 Asia Cup. The two teams will also encounter on October 15 at the ICC World Cup in Ahmedabad.

Nepal will make its début in the 16th edition of the continental tournament; the team qualified for Asia Cup in May after defeating the UAE in the final of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup. Additionally, the senior team is presently competing in the Emerging Team Asia Cup.

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PCB chairman Najam Sethi recently disclosed that the team will only travel to India for the ICC mega-event if the Pakistani government grants permission. BCCI’s draft schedule for the World Cup has been delayed due to Pakistan’s reluctance to play at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which is rumored to host the titanic clash between archrivals India and Pakistan.

Former Pakistani captain and one of the country’s most celebrated cricketers, Shahid Afridi, persuaded the team to play in Ahmedabad despite board opposition. He was unable to comprehend the rationale behind Pakistan’s unwillingness to play at the venue.

Why do they refuse to perform on the Ahmedabad fields? It either throws flames or is haunted. Go and compete; go, compete, and triumph. “If these are the anticipated obstacles, the only way to overcome them is with a decisive victory,” Afridi stated on Samaa TV.

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Pull off a victory in front of a crowded Indian crowd to demonstrate your abilities: Afridi

The former cricketer elaborated, stating that the sole concern should be the team’s triumph. He stated that a victory for the Men in Green in the Lion’s Den would alert the Indians to Pakistan’s fortitude and serve as a stern warning to the other teams in the tournament.

“What ultimately matters is the Pakistan team’s victory. Therein and only therein is the central issue. Consider this in a positive light. “If they’re comfortable there, you should go and win in front of a raucous Indian crowd to show them what you’re made of,” he added.

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Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup, despite the majority of games being played on the island, was predicted by Chopra. In addition, the commentator was confident that Pakistan would participate in the impending Cricket World Cup, as they cannot simply boycott ICC mega-events.

“I am not the least bit astonished, given India’s refusal to go and the fact that they are not going. Pakistan will also participate in the World Cup, there is no doubt about that, as you cannot behave in such a manner at ICC events in which you do not participate, Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

The former India opener went on to say that if a team decides not to participate in the Asia Cup, other teams can enter the competition without them. According to the 45-year-old, the Asia Cup without Pakistan is comparable to pizza without cheese. Pakistan should participate in the continental competition, he added, or the event will not be pleasurable.

“You can show some muscle in the Asia Cup by refusing to participate and allowing other teams to play without you if they so choose. Without Pakistan, the Asia Cup is like a pizza without toppings. It will be unpleasant. Therefore, you want Pakistan to participate in the Asia Cup, he continued.

Now that the schedule has been determined, India and Pakistan will meet once again in the Asia Cup: Chopra Aakash Chopra added that it has always been established that India will not visit Pakistan while Pakistan will visit India. The 45-year-old believes that the lengthy debate regarding the location of the continental tournament has finally been resolved. He added that everyone will be able to see India and Pakistan clash again in the Asia Cup, and he was thrilled that Nepal qualified for the tournament.

Also See | ‘Duleep Trophy is for India hopefuls’ – Wriddhiman Saha

“It has always been confirmed that India will not travel to Pakistan, and that Pakistan will travel to India. The time for posturing has passed. I trust this ends the debate, as the discussions were ongoing and nothing was being resolved. It has been decided that India and Pakistan will once again compete in the Asia Cup. Nepal, a country on the rise, will be a part of India’s cohort this time, Chopra concluded.

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In March, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is expected to move the Asia Cup from Pakistan and choose a new location after BCCI secretary Jay Shah and PCB chairman Najam Sethi raised the issue during a formal meeting on Saturday in Bahrain. The emergency meeting, called at Sethi’s request after the ACC released its schedule and Pakistan wasn’t awarded the Asia Cup hosts, was attended by the heads of all ACC member countries.

Originally assigned to Pakistan, the Asia Cup was set to take place in September of this year. However, Shah, who serves as the ACC chairman, announced in October of last year that India will not travel to Pakistan as a result of political tension between the two countries.

“The ACC engaged in a fruitful discussion regarding the next Asia Cup 2023. The Board decided to move forward with the operations, schedules, and other specific discussions in order to ensure the match’s success. In a press statement, ACC noted that a decision on the topic could be made during the following ACC Government Board Assembly, which would be held in March 2023.

Although a decision won’t be made until the following month, a senior BCCI official familiar with the situation told PTI that it’s highly improbable that Pakistan will host the match.

“The match had to be moved because India decided not to visit Pakistan. The sponsors might pull out of a game without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill, the official said.

One ACC insider claimed that Sethi had just assumed control of the PCB and that he would have made a bad image at home if he had given up the hosting rights during the first meeting itself.

Pakistan is currently experiencing a financial catastrophe. One US dollar is now equivalent to 277 Pakistani rupees, severely impacting the country. Even with an ACC funding, organising a high-profile match like Asia Cup may strain PCB finances.

Therefore, tactically, there is a chance that each member country could even get to profit in addition to the printed earnings if the match is staged in the UAE.

In another decision, the ACC increased the annual funding granted to the Afghanistan Cricket Association from six to fifteen percent.

The ACC has promised to support the Afghanistan board in whatever way possible in order to bring back women’s cricket in the country. Under Taliban control, women are not allowed to participate in sports.

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Additionally, the Government Board gave permission for teams from Indonesia and Japan to be invited to participate in the ACC pathway competitions.

UAE Set To Host Asia Cup Which Was Initially Alloted To Pakistan: Report https://t.co/rplbmWXRyf

— Today USA Updates (@todayusalive) February 4, 2023

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