Who: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
What: T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours
When: Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30 PM (14:30 GMT)
Where: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have live coverage starting at 11:00 GMT, followed by a detailed text commentary stream.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka are set to clash in their Super Fours match at the T20 Asia Cup 2025, aware that a defeat could endanger their tournament prospects in Abu Dhabi.
Both teams, previous champions, lost their opening games in this phase, making Tuesday’s match crucial for their chances of advancing to the final.
The two top teams from the round-robin Super Fours will earn spots in the final in Dubai on Sunday. India and Bangladesh, the other teams in the Super Fours, each secured points after winning their matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively.
Six-time champions Sri Lanka suffered a narrow four-wicket defeat to Bangladesh, while Pakistan faced their second loss in eight days against India. Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, has enjoyed an unbeaten run in Group B and is favored against Pakistan, whom they have defeated in their last five T20I encounters.
Key Players: Pakistan
- Fakhar Zaman: The experienced batter returns after a lengthy injury break. While his scoring has been inconsistent, his ability to unsettle bowlers makes him a crucial player for Pakistan.
- Abrar Ahmed: As Pakistan’s most economical bowler in the tournament, Ahmed’s tight spells put pressure on opposing batters, making him essential in the lineup despite having taken only four wickets.
Key Players: Sri Lanka
- Pathum Nissanka: The Sri Lankan opener is in excellent form, scoring no less than 30 runs in 16 of his last 25 T20I innings. He stands second in the tournament with 146 runs.
- Wanindu Hasaranga: Despite struggle with injuries, Hasaranga is a key player, contributing five wickets with an economy rate below six in the Asia Cup.
Points Table and Qualification Scenario
India leads the Super Fours standings with two points and a net run rate (NRR) of 0.689, closely followed by Bangladesh, who hold the same points but a lower NRR of 0.121. The winner of Tuesday’s match can position themselves anywhere from first to third depending on their NRR.
Head-to-Head: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in T20Is
While Pakistan has a slight edge in overall T20I results against Sri Lanka, the latter has been superior in recent years, winning 13 of their last 23 encounters.
Form Guide
Pakistan has shown inconsistent form in the T20 Asia Cup, winning against weaker teams while losing twice to India. Sri Lanka, after a successful group stage, faced a setback with their recent loss to Bangladesh but previously had a strong performance against Zimbabwe.
Team News
Pakistan has made several lineup changes during the tournament, facing criticism for excluding aggressive batter Hasan Nawaz. They may reintroduce him against Sri Lanka, along with spinner Sufiyan Muqeem. For Sri Lanka, Kamil Mishara’s position is uncertain due to his recent low scores, possibly paving the way for Janith Liyanage.
