Abu Dhabi, Sept 23: Defending champions Sri Lanka and Pakistan are under pressure to secure their first win in the Super 4s of the Asia Cup, following early setbacks in the tournament. Sri Lanka, which breezed through the group stage unbeaten, suffered a four-wicket loss to Bangladesh in its Super 4 opener, snapping an impressive eight-match winning streak in the T20 Asia Cup. Pakistan, on the other hand, has been grappling with off-field issues and suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of arch-rival India, marking its second loss to the ‘Men in Blue’ in this tournament.Both teams now face a must-win situation in their upcoming match. Sri Lanka’s middle order remains a concern, despite Dasun Shanaka’s counterattacking knock against Bangladesh. Pathum Nissanka, who had been in good form during the group stage, has hit a rough patch. However, Kusal Mendis and Kamil Mishara appear to be in good touch and could provide much-needed stability. In the bowling department, pacer Nuwan Thushara has impressed, currently standing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with six scalps.
Pakistan’s batting lineup has been under scrutiny, especially in the absence of former skipper Babar Azam and senior batter Mohammad Rizwan. Top-order batters Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, and Saim Ayub showed promise against India but failed to sustain pressure, highlighting the team’s inconsistency. The bowling unit has also struggled, with leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed failing to find the right lengths against a dominant Indian batting lineup. Both teams will be eager to bounce back and keep their Super 4 hopes alive in this crucial encounter.