Key Points

Pakistan has won the toss and chosen to bowl first against Sri Lanka in a must-win Asia Cup encounter. Both teams are coming off defeats in their opening Super 4s matches. Pakistan is fielding an unchanged XI, while Sri Lanka has made two changes to their lineup. The outcome of this match is critical for either team's hopes of reaching the final.

Key Points: Pakistan Bowl First in Asia Cup Must-Win Clash vs Sri Lanka

  • Pakistan aims to improve batting and bowling after opening Super 4s loss to India
  • Sri Lanka makes two changes, bringing in Karunaratne and Theekshana
  • Both teams lost their first Super 4s matches and face elimination
  • Sri Lanka captain Asalanka targets improvement in death-over batting and bowling
2 min read

Asia Cup: Pakistan elect to bowl first in must-win game vs Sri Lanka

Pakistan captain Salman Agha opts to field in a crucial T20 Asia Cup Super 4s match. Both teams seek victory to stay alive in the tournament.

"We will bowl first. Looks like a good wicket, don't think it will change much. - Salman Agha"

Abu Dhabi, Sep 23

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka in a must-win Super 4s match of the Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka started the Super 4s stage with defeat -- Pakistan losing to India while Sri Lanka went down to Bangladesh in their opening match. Both teams would like to win the match and stay alive in the competition.

Pakistan decided to go into the match with an unchanged playing XI, while Sri Lanka made two changes, with Chamika Karunaratne and Maheesh Theekshana coming in for Dunith Wellalage and Mishara.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha said it was a good wicket and he does not expect it to change. "We will bowl first. Looks like a good wicket, don't think it will change much. We want to improve with the bat and ball. It's a new game, a new challenge. We want to focus on today," he said.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said he too would have bowled first, but was okay with batting first. He agreed that it was a good pitch. He said that Sri Lanka have been playing good cricket, but there is a little 10 percent that they have to improve, namely batting and bowling at the death.

Playing XIs:

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Both teams under pressure after losing their opening matches. This is like a quarter-final now! Excited to see how the young Pakistani batting lineup performs today.
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Vikram M
Sri Lanka's bowling changes are interesting. Theekshana coming in could be crucial on this pitch. Hope Pakistan's middle order doesn't collapse like against India.
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Rohit P
As an Indian fan, I'm watching this closely! Whichever team wins today will be our next opponent. Both teams look evenly matched. Should be a thriller! 🏏
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Sarah B
Good to see both captains being practical about the conditions. Hope we get a competitive match rather than a one-sided affair. The Asia Cup needs more close games!
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Kavya N
Pakistan's unchanged XI shows confidence in the team. But I'm worried about our batting depth. If top order fails again, we might struggle. Fingers crossed! 🤞
M
Michael C
The toss could be crucial here. Both captains wanted to bowl first, so Pakistan got what they wanted. Now they need to execute their plans properly.

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