Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka or Bangladesh; who will be out today?

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been seen struggling in the batting department. These struggles have been prevalent since 2019 as they are the only two teams among full-member squads who average less than 20 with the bat. With their team strike rate being below 115, they are also the teams who score less than four sixes per match. Both teams need to reboot their batting strategies.

As both teams nearly stand at an equivalent level in the batting department, their bowlers hold the power to be game-changers for their respective teams. 

The pitches in UAE have offered some help to the pacemakers in games played so far and can impact games ahead as well. Sri Lanka looks to have a little edge on Bangladesh as the Tigers are weak against mystery spinners like Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. They struggled against Mujeeb your Rahman and Rashid Khan in the fixture against Afghanistan and once again can be tormented in this crucial match. 

Bangladesh highly depends on their all-rounder skipper Shakib Al Hasan for scoring runs and restricting the flow of runs from opponents in the powerplay.

Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka commented, "Apart from them [Shakib and Fizz], there is no world-class bowler on the side. If we compare with Afghanistan, Bangladesh is an easier opponent."

To this, Bangladesh coach Khaled Mahmud replied, "I don't see any [world-class] bowler in [the] Sri Lanka side."

In this war of words, Mahela Jayawardene commented, "Looks like it's time for Sri Lanka bowlers to show the class and batters to show who they are on the field."

As it's a do-or-die match, both the teams will fancy their chances and go full attacking mode to make it to Super 4. We can expect a close contest between the two teams.

Follow all of today's Cricket matches on our Live Match Centre