ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket team will be gunning for a win today, Tuesday, to keep their Asia Cup hopes alive as Salman Ali Agha’s team face Sri Lana in the Super Four stage of the tournament in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan head into the match bruised from their six-wicket defeat at the hands of India on Sunday. A 100-run partnership between openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill wrecked Pakistan’s hopes of defending their 172-run target on Sunday in Dubai.
Sharma led his team to victory by scoring a whirlwind 74 off 39 balls and Gill made 47 off 28. India reached 174-4 at the end of 18.5 overs, getting the better of Pakistan in the shortest format of the game yet again.
“In Super Four phase of T20 Asia Cup, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. “The match will begin at 7:30 pm.”
At the post-match press conference on Sunday, Pakistan captain Agha defended his side’s performance, saying they had performed well with the bat.
Agha said the side had fared well in the Asia Cup and the preceding tri-nation series involving the UAE and Afghanistan as well.
“We also know that we have to forget this game as quickly as possible and we have another game the day after tomorrow [Tuesday],” the Pakistan captain said.
“So we will look forward to that and god willing, we will try to give a better performance there.”
Sri Lanka, who lost their Super Four opening fixture against Bangladesh, will be wary of Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf. The right-arm quick has only played two T20Is against Sri Lanka but has five wickets and an economy rate of 6.85 against them.
He was also Pakistan’s best quick in the last match against India, taking 2 for 26.
