The likelihood that India and Pakistan will face each other three times throughout the continental event was the centre of attention well before the Asia Cup 2022 even started. Few predicted that teams like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka would be a challenge, and India and Pakistan were seen as the undisputed favourites to play first in the group stage, then in the Super 4 stage, and finally in the championship match.
India defeated Pakistan in the tournament’s opening match, and Babar Azam’s team subsequently battled back to win the Super 4 match with ease. After how poorly they performed in their initial match against Afghanistan, few people picked the island country as favourites.
They were carted off for 105. Only three batters from Sri Lanka achieved double digits. As Afghanistan’s openers scored 83 runs in just over 6 overs, their bowlers gave up. In the end, they were defeated by 8 wickets.
Sri Lanka quickly moved past the outcome and battled back to win their next four games, including the group match against Bangladesh and Super 4 matches against India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. They won the Super 4 stage and are now ready to face Pakistan in the title match, which is set to take place on Sunday in Dubai.
Sri Lanka appears to have passed the transitional phase.
The Lankan lions haven’t exactly enjoyed themselves at the greatest level since that 2014 T20 World Cup final against India. The collective effort that was lacking appears to have crept back into the camp, albeit there have been players who have occasionally displayed class and calibre.