POBNEWS24, Dhaka Sep 12, 2022 : Starting with a one-on-one loss to Afghanistan, and ending sweetly with a one-on-one victory over Pakistan in the final—this is Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup T20!
Dasun Shanaka’s team played a total of 6 matches in the tournament. After a loss in the first, the title went on to win five in a row. According to the statistics, this is the first time since 2014 that Sri Lanka has won five T20Is in a row. The last such streak came when the team won the T20 World Cup. In the last eight years, Sri Lanka have not won many consecutive matches, let alone a trophy.
When a team with their backs against the wall can finally leave the field with the trophy after a poor start in the continental competition, then it is to be applauded. Especially the joy of former cricketers who left Lanka on the road to success eight years ago is high in this case. As Mahela Jayawardene wrote, ‘It’s good to lose the toss. You have shown the passion and personality to play for the country. Proud of each and every one of you. Enjoy this victory like the whole country. Great team effort.’
Jayawardene’s teammate Kumar Sangakkara also tweeted about Shanaka’s team. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board tagged captain Shanaka and finalist Rajapakse, writing, ‘Great win and fully deserved. You played like a true champion. You continue to inspire as a team.’
Angelo Mathews, who lifted the Asia Cup trophy for Sri Lanka before Shanaka, wrote, ‘Boys played like champions and brought a big occasion. Good leadership by Shanaka, what a wonderful innings by Rajapakse, what a great ball in hand by Wanindu and Karunaratne! Sri Lanka board what a moment! Enjoy the victory.’ Another former cricketer, Sanath Jayasuriya wrote, ‘Congratulations on a fantastic win. Most importantly the Sri Lankan brand of cricket for which we had a reputation is back. You brought home the trophy as planned. Enjoy this moment. The next goal is the World Cup.
Not only Sri Lanka’s former cricketers, Pakistan’s former cricketers also congratulated Sri Lanka for winning the Asia Cup. Shahid Afridi was in the Pakistan team that lost to Sri Lanka in the 2014 Asia Cup final. Even if he himself lost then, he hoped that the successors would not lose this time, especially after winning the toss, he did not think about Babar’s loss. He wrote on Twitter, ‘When I started watching the game, I thought Pakistan would make it one side. But in the end it was Sri Lanka who made the match one-sided. Sri Lanka played well throughout the tournament, especially in the final. They deserve the Asia Cup.’
Wasim Akram also congratulated Sri Lanka ahead of Pakistan, ‘Winning is not everything, but winning is the only thing. That was the only mantra of this great Sri Lankan team. At the end of the day, the better team wins. Congratulations.’ Apart from this, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal congratulated Sri Lanka in tweets suggesting to correct Pakistan’s defeat and disappointment.
Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh tweeted congratulating Sri Lanka outside the two finalist countries. Mushfiq, who bid farewell to international T20 after playing the last match against Sri Lanka in the group stage, wrote, ‘What a great innings Vanuka played under pressure, and what great support Hasaranga gave with bat and ball. The more qualified team will lift the Asia Cup trophy. Congratulations Sri Lanka.’
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag while congratulating the Sri Lankan team mentioned the World Cup qualification, ‘Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup by playing well. Imagine, this team could not qualify for the T20 World Cup to be held next month. Who can’t qualify with you, losing to him is not a surprising thing! All parties will lose sleep.’
