DUBAI: September 12,2022. Pakistan lost Asia T20 cup 2022 final to Sri Lanka here on Sunday.
Pakistan won the toss and put Sri Lanka to bat first . Its batting start was not very promising as Pakistan ‘s pacers, particularly , Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf,performed exceptionally well with a new ball and bowled out three top order players of Sri Lankan team in the first power play.
At end of 10 overs , Sri Lanka had 66 runs for 5 wickets and then its middle order batsmen bounced back . They made wonderful comeback in the last five overs to set a big total of 171 runs for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s poor captaincy provided much room to Sri Lankan players to hit big hits for 4s and 6s in the last four overs.
Babar Azam’s decisions to handover the last four overs to those bowlers who had given much runs in their first spells proved extremely costly.
Pakistan, as usual, took a lethargic start and kept on getting runs at 6 run per over till first 10 overs when it was to chase a big total of 171 runs.
Babar Azam got out when his individual score was only 5 . Fakhar got out after only 1 run.
It put Pakistan under pressure and its slow run rate made target difficult after each ball.
Then collapse of middle order made the rest for Sri Lanka .
Rizwan who kept on getting singles or leaving dot balls made things worse for the new comers on the crease . Even big hitters like Iftikhar, Asif and Shahdab could do nothing to save match due to rising run rate in the last five overs . Rizwan did made his half century, but it paved way for Pakistan’s defeat in Asia T20 cup 2022. Pakistan could make only 147l runs in 20 overs
No body other than , Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman , Ramiz Raja, who maintained an incompetent Babar Azam as captain of the team and other game planners who maintained Fakhar Zaman as opener despite his continuous failure in the event are responsible of Pakistan’s defeat here on Sunday in Asia T20 cup 2022.
Pakistan’s team game plan of going slow in the first 10 overs and safe wickets proved suicidal.
PCB may not be concerned of Pakistan team’s poor show as its officials , particularly , Ramiz Raja, is working on ad-hoc basis .. He has least interest in Pakistan’s win in any big event knowing well that he is likely to lose his job any time in near future, but Sunday’s defeat of Pakistan in Asia T20 cup would have given pain to Pakistani fans who saw the match in and outside the stadium .