Asia Cup 2022: From 'Underdogs' To Asian Champions - The Story Of Sri Lanka's Emergence

14.09.2022 - 14:49 sports.ndtv.com

"I think in T20 cricket anything can happen, we can bounce back in next game," a gutted Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka had said after his team's disappointing loss to Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup opener.

Many experts had written the side off after the loss. To be honest, they were not among favorites to win the tournament either.

Irrespective of the talks around, the group believed in its ability -- so much, that it eventually went on to win the 2022 Asia Cup - its 6th title - by beating teams like India and Pakistan, who were considered as favourites, on their way to glory.

C H A M P I O N S !Men's Asia Cup Champions for theth time!#RoaringForGlory #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/t3RmkBan4t A forgettable start At the beginning, it seemed that the Asia Cup 2022 was not meant for Sri Lanka.

cricket Sri Lanka Cricket Team 2022 cup Dasun Shanaka Uae India Sri Lanka Afghanistan Bangladesh Pakistan

Sri Lanka's Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara will travel to Australia for the T20 World Cup in a squad largely unchanged from the island nation's surprise Asia Cup win, selectors said on Friday. Matheesha Pathirana, who debuted last month at the Dubai competition, and Asitha Fernando were dropped from the 15-man squad to make room for the more seasoned duo. Chameera and Kumara will play subject to fitness as both are recovering from injuries, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Sri Lanka name Chameera, Kumara in T20 World Cup squad

Sri Lanka on Friday named pace bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara in their 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in the hope that the duo recover in time for the tournament starting next month.

Sri Lanka, Asia Cup Champions, Name 15-Member T20 World Cup Squad. Premier Paceman Dushmantha Chameera Named Despite Fitness Worries

Sri Lanka, recent Asia Cup champions, have named their 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, which will be played in Australia from October 16 to November 13. Sri Lanka have named Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara in the 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, but their participation will be subject to their fitness ahead of the tournament.

Sri Lanka surprise, Kohli comeback: 5 Asia Cup talking points

Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs in Dubai on Sunday to clinch their sixth Asia Cup.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Dasun Shanaka Dedicates Asia Cup Win To Crisis-Hit Sri Lanka

Skipper Dasun Shanaka on Sunday called the Asia Cup triumph a "real turnaround" for Sri Lankan cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup and dedicated the win to the crisis-hit nation. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the final with Bhanuka Rajapaksa hitting an unbeaten 71 and Wanindu Hasaranga starring with bat and ball in Dubai. The win was nothing short of a fairytale ending for a team which started the tournament, a precursor to the World Cup starting next month in Australia, with an embarrassing loss against Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Dasun Shanaka Reveals How CSK Inspired Sri Lanka's Asia Cup Final Win vs Pakistan

The Asia Cup 2022 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw a heavy trend in the favour of teams chasing, making the toss in the final a crucial one to win. The odds were already in favour of Pakistan when Babar Azam called it right and opted to field. Things got worse for Sri Lanka when they were down to 58/5 in the 9th over. But from then on, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pramod Madushan and an inspired display of fielding saw them register a rather comfortable win over Pakistan to lift their sixth Asia Cup title.