DUBAI
\nSri Lanka are poised for an unlikely Asia Cup victory over favourites Pakistan in Sunday\u2019s final after a giant-slaying streak through the tournament despite troubles at home.
\nThe island nation had to abandon plans to host the Twenty20 competition due to political unrest and stumbled in their opener to Afghanistan by eight wickets, with nearly 10 overs remaining.
\nBut the five-time champions bounced back to beat Bangladesh, Afghanistan and tournament favourites India, scuttling a hotly anticipated finals showdown between Rohit Sharma\u2019s men and archrivals Pakistan.
\nFriday\u2019s closing Super Four match was a dress rehearsal for the Dubai final, and Sri Lanka\u2019s fourth straight victory, albeit with Pakistan missing two of their key players.
\nOn Sunday they will depend on the spin pairing of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who helped bowl out Pakistan for 121 on Friday in a comfortable five-wicket win.
\nOpener Pathum Nissanka led the batting charge with an unbeaten 55 in a clinical show, but skipper Dasun Shanaka warned his team of complacency.
\n\u201cThe confidence we have is massive after four consecutive wins, but we still don\u2019t take Pakistan lightly in the final,\u201d Shanaka told reporters.
\n\u201cWe know they are a very good side and enough good players in their side to come back strong and we should be ready for that.\u201d
\nSri Lanka fared well in their recent home series of two Tests against Pakistan, played in Galle against the backdrop of a punishing economic crisis and political unrest.
\nShanaka said his side had been bombarded with \u201cmessages of love and support\u201d and its Asia Cup success had brought cheer back home after miserable months of blackouts, fuel shortages and protests.
\n\u201cSo nice that we are winning and giving back something to them,\u201d he said.
\nPakistan are weathering their own troubles at home with monsoon floods that have inundated a third of the country.
\nBut the team have shone through the tournament, a curtain-raiser for next month\u2019s T20 World Cup in Australia, avenging an opening game loss to India and clinching a last-over thriller against Afghanistan.
\nFast bowler Naseem Shah and all-rounder Shadab Khan both missed Friday\u2019s showdown, but will lengthen Sri Lanka\u2019s odds when they return for the final.
\nNaseem, 19, has kept the edge on Pakistan\u2019s bowling attack in the absence of pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the tournament due to injury.
\nHe also hit two sixes in a dramatic one-wicket win over Afghanistan to seal India\u2019s exit.
\nBatting remains a cause for concern, with skipper Babar Azam managing a tournament best of just 30. Mohammad Rizwan is the only consistent performer with 226 runs in five matches.
\nBut coach Saqlain Mushtaq said he had complete faith in his side to deliver despite Azam\u2019s \u201cunlucky\u201d run.
\n\u201cThe latest match we won against India, we chased and batted well,\u201d he said. \u201cThings are moving in the right direction and we are confident.\u201d
\nPakistan\u2019s latest loss to Sri Lanka might have stalled their momentum, but Saqlain said the team will heed the lessons of Friday\u2019s match-up.
\n\u201cI will talk about mistakes in the dressing room, but Sri Lanka will take confidence into the final and Pakistan some learnings and passion,\u201d Saqlain said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DUBAI Sri Lanka are poised for an unlikely Asia Cup victory over favourites Pakistan in Sunday\u2019s final after a giant-slaying streak through the tournament despite troubles at home. The island nation had to abandon plans to host the Twenty20 competition due to political unrest and stumbled in their opener to Afghanistan by eight wickets, with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":282732,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-282708","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n