Unpredictable Pakistan meet wily SL
In Dubai, the centre-stage for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka final today, there was no intense media activity with both teams having opted to stay within their hotel, foregoing practice sessions and media conference.
The Pakistan-India matches had lived up to expectations and generated discussions but with India not having made the final, the attention had slightly decreased. The streets do not carry a flavour of a big match coming up and in the midst of it all, Pakistan's head coach's remark on what he said about the toss had grabbed the attention.
"If you want to be champions, you don't think or talk about toss," Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq said after the last Super Four game against Sri Lanka on Friday, knowing quite well that the outcome of the dress rehearsal for the final too had gone to team batting second, as it did in almost all games in the 15th edition of the tournament so far.
Question remains how either side will approach the final after being dealt the 'bad' side of the coin since winning the toss will always lead to the decision of batting second.
"See the toss is a very big factor here but our batsmen are very good at batting in both first and second innings," a confident Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka had said on Friday.
A way -- however challenging it may seem -- to offset the toss factor in the final would be to post a big first innings total, followed by early wickets with the new ball. Pakistan will have the upper hand with the ball but Sri Lanka possess batting depth, calculative approach, and composure on their side. If Pakistan are unpredictable, Sri Lanka are assured.
Pakistan's power-hitting in lower-middle order or their openers could create the difference while Sri Lanka's spin could aid their side in neutralising Pakistan's hitting ability. It would be a battle of nerves and both sides have had good results by recovering from tight situations.
Sri Lanka overcame Bangladesh and then India in tight matches while Pakistan handed defeats to India and Afghanistan, a game where Naseem Shah's two incredible sixes in the last over as a number 11 showed Pakistan's unpredictability can pop up from anywhere. On the other hand, Sri Lanka's stability comes from their dynamic approach in batting.
Where the two sides are similar is that winning this game can revitalise the dwindling morale back home, with cricket being a major boost in society. "One-third of Pakistan is currently under water," a press release from the PCB quoted spinner Shadab Khan yesterday, while adding they are hoping for a win to 'bring lively smiles back on the faces of people affected by the flood.'
Sri Lanka's economic crisis had seen the Asia Cup moved to UAE and the Lankan skipper said his side has been rejuvenated by wishes of people back home and the team remain eager to give something back to the people.
Both teams have toiled hard under testing conditions so far in the marquee event, and their skills, guile and nerves, above all, will be put to the test again tonight as the Asia Cup 2022 gets its last hurrah to emanate thrills of joy.