Dubai 11 September : Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that whoever from Pakistan and Sri Lanka will win the toss in the 2022 Asia Cup final will get an advantage in the Dubai International Stadium.For the Asia Cup 2022, sides who chase have claimed six of the eight matches in the tournament played at the Dubai International Stadium, with the usual pattern of conditions strongly in favor of the team that bats second.
Although Pakistan have won three matches and lost two games in the tournament to date, Sri Lanka have been on winning teams four times and lost only once.In the overall head-to head equation in Asia Cups, Sri Lanka have won 11 matches, while Pakistan have defeated them only five times.
“This is a great game, but it’s not really an extremely scoring game, since when you examine these two batting lineups you can tell they’re slightly volatile, and somewhat more inexperienced.”
“And when you see these batting lines-ups, when you think about the stress of the game on a brand new pitch, you realize that bowlers will play an even greater role to play.I believe that the team who wins the toss will have an advantage.I’m anticipating 140-150 points of score and the team that is chasing will be on their toes.” Chopra said on Chopra on Star Sports ahead of the final.
Chopra also believes Sri Lanka leg-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga as a major threat to the Pakistan batters.
In the Super Four match between these two teams, Hasaranga picked three wickets of which one was of captain Babar Azam, who bowled off Pakistan for 121 runs and lay the stage for a five-wicket victory.
“Wanindu Hasaranga will be a massive threat for Pakistan because in the front of legspin and googly this Pakistan lineup is a mess, regardless of whether it’s his (Hasaranga) or Rashid Khan (the Afghanistan leg-spinner).We have seen this play out.That’s an issue.”
In terms of Pakistan’s bowling lineup, Chopra opined that Pakistan’s pace attack, which has recorded the highest number of deliveries in more than of 140kph, could create a problem for Sri Lanka batters, so as leg spinner Shadab Khan.
“From Sri Lanka’s viewpoint of point of view, I think Pakistan pacers are fast and have gained bounce.
The new pitch should give them some help.So this could be a problem for Sri Lanka as their batting is not the most stable.”
“If Pakistan team is defending then I’ll pick Shadab Khan.He might score a few runs with the bat at the front , and then with legspin he can take wickets.That’s how I think,” concluded Chopra.
A victory in the final on Sunday would boost Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup titles from five to six, and for Pakistan it will go up by two to three.
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