Pakistan won the toss and are fielding first against Sri Lanka, as both sides look to register their first win in the Super Four stage of the men’s Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Pakistan are playing their first match of the tournament in Abu Dhabi, where the scores are generally higher than in Dubai.
The Green Shirts are unchanged from their last encounter against India on Sunday.
Reeling from early setbacks in the Super Four stage, both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be desperate to register their first win in this critical stage of the Asia Cup.
Defending champions Sri Lanka, who breezed through the group stage unbeaten, were jolted by a four-wicket loss to Bangladesh in their Super Four opener. The defeat not only disrupted their rhythm but also snapped an impressive eight-match winning streak in the Asia Cup.
On the other hand, off-field issues have dominated headlines around the Pakistan team, overshadowing their middling performances on the field. They are in disarray after suffering yet another humbling defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India on Sunday, their second loss to their archrivals in this tournament.
India and Bangladesh have two points each, with Suryakumar Yadav’s men leading the standings owing to a superior net run-rate. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the third and fourth spots, respectively.
With little time for recovery, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha and his side now face a must-win situation under mounting pressure.
