14th September 2023, Colombo – In a dramatic turn of events at the Asia Cup 2023, the toss for the highly anticipated match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was postponed due to unexpected rain just minutes before the scheduled toss.
This clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is being hailed as the virtual semi-final of the tournament, with both teams desperately vying for a spot in the final. Unfortunately, rain has been a persistent antagonist in Pakistan’s journey in the Island nation, with this being the fourth match threatened by heavy showers.
Both teams are entering this crucial encounter with the weight of recent losses to India. Sri Lanka had a golden opportunity to secure a place in the final when they attempted to chase down a target of 214 against India on Tuesday. However, their valiant efforts, particularly Dunith Wellalage’s remarkable performance with both bat and ball, ultimately fell short.
On the other hand, Pakistan faced a devastating defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, India. They suffered a record-breaking 228-run loss over two harrowing days, during which they also lost two of their key fast bowlers. Furthermore, the blow continued as Naseem Shah was ruled out of the tournament, and Haris Rauf’s chances of making a return seem uncertain.
Today’s match has now transformed into a do-or-die situation for both teams, as a strong performance here could offer them a chance to redeem themselves in the final. In case the match is unable to proceed due to rain, Sri Lanka would secure their spot in the final thanks to their superior run rate compared to Pakistan.
Here are the expected playing XIs for today’s match:
Pakistan:
- Mohammad Haris
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (capt)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wkt)
- Saud Shakeel
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Shadab Khan (vice-capt)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Mohammad Wasim
- Zaman Khan
Sri Lanka (possible):
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Mendis (wk)
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Dasun Shanka (capt)
- Dunith Wellalage
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Kasun Rajitha
- Matheesha Pathirana
Read more: Rain clouds loom large over Pak-SL Asia Cup ‘semi-final’
As fans eagerly await this critical match in the Asia Cup 2023, all eyes will be on the weather conditions, hoping that rain does not disrupt what promises to be an intense and decisive encounter. Both teams will be determined to leave their mark and secure a spot in the final, making this a match not to be missed in this exciting tournament.
