Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan wins toss, bowl first in final

Pakistan won the toss and decided to field against Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the last meeting between the two sides on Friday, but both Babar and Shanaka’s XI had already qualified for the final. As for Pakistan, they are more likely to bring back Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan, a move that will further strengthen the playing XI.

While Pakistan is looking good overall, despite some flaws, they have suffered an Asia Cup drought as they have only managed to win two titles in the event and the last in 2012 and the fans are expecting from the green shirts. End the decade drought.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will go to the ground with a psychological advantage as their seniors have achieved plenty of milestones in the history of Asia Cup. However, this team is still so young, but after losing to Afghanistan in their very first match, Shanaka XI stunned the cricket experts by coming back strongly.

Sri Lanka are playing with the same team while Pakistan have made a couple of changes. Usman Qadir and Hasan Ali are out and Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah have expectedly replaced them. 

Playing XIs

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain

--Agencies