Asia Cup 2052: Disciplined Pakistan attack puts Sri Lanka under pressure

Sri Lanka batters struggled to strengthen their innings as seamers rattled their batting order in crucial match of the Asia Cup 2025's Super Fours phase at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday.

Shaheen's first-over strike gave Green Shirts an early advantage as he dismissed Kusal Mendis. He struck again in his second over and removed Pathum Nissanka when Sri Lanka scored 18 runs.

Despite losing early wickets, Sri Lanka maintained their run rate until Haris Rauf sent off Kusal Perara for 15 runs.

Later, Hussain Talat came in and grabbed back-to-back two wickets of Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka and middle-order batter Dasun Shanaka in the seventh over.

Abrar Ahmed also took one wicket by bowling out Hasaranga during 13th over.

Pakistan elected to bowl first after winning the toss against Sri Lanka.

Playing XIs

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

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

Head-to-head

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have come face-to-face 23 times in T20Is, with Pakistan leading the head-to-head record with 13 victories, while Sri Lanka triumphed on 10 occasions.

In the T20 format of the Men’s Asia Cup T20, however, Sri Lanka boast a dominant record with two victories in three meetings against Pakistan, including their triumph in the final of the 2022 edition of the continental tournament.

Whereas, in the last five encounters against Pakistan in the shortest format, Sri Lanka are unbeaten.

• Matches: 23
• Pakistan: 13
• Sri Lanka: 10

Form Guide

The two teams enter the all-important fixture with similar momentum as they are coming off a defeat in their respective opening matches of the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage.

Sri Lanka succumbed to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of Bangladesh on Saturday, while Pakistan suffered a six-wicket defeat against fierce rivals India the following day.

Pakistan are at the bottom of the Super Four standings due to an inferior net run rate to third-placed Sri Lanka.

Pakistan: L, W, L, W, W (most recent first)

Sri Lanka: L, W, W, W, W