Asia Cup 2023: Injury-hit Pakistan face spirited Sri Lanka in virtual semi-final; LIVE streaming and more

Injury-affected Pakistan will have a tough task against Sri Lanka in a virtual Asia Cup semi-final on Thursday. Winner of their Super Four clash will go on to face India in the final on Sunday. Both teams have two points from two matches played at this stage but Sri Lanka have the better Net Run Rate (NRR).

Pakistan are without Naseem Shah and may not want to risk it with Haris Rauf either. Both seamers picked up niggles during the match against India on Sunday (and Monday). Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan have come in as replacements for the duo. Zaman, 22, who can hit 150 kmph, is going to slot right back in.

Men in Green are also worried by their show with the bat against India. Except a 342 run show against Nepal at the start of the tournament, Pakistan haven’t hit the ground running with the willow.

Largely they are dependent on openers – Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq – and captain Babar Azam for big runs. They need some runs from the likes of Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha, and urgently too.

Iftikhar Ahmed showed his big-hitting prowess with a hundred against Nepal, but he needs to do that against bigger oppositions.

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the Super Four and ran India close in a low-run affair. The Lankans have showed they are not pushovers despite the absence of some first-choice players. Injuries to Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara was expected to hurt Sri Lanka but that hasn’t been the case.

With experienced players missing, they’ve put their hopes of youngsters such as Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana who have come up with some impressive efforts.

Sri Lanka would once again hope for their spinners to shine in Colombo – just as they were against India on a pitch that offered plenty of turn and grip.

They’d expect 20-year-old Wellalage to continue his lethal bowling against Pakistan having taken five wickets versus India.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match date

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match will be played on 14 September 2023.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match time

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match will start at 3 PM IST. The toss will take place at 2.30 PM IST.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match venue

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match LIVE Streaming

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network and the live streaming will be available on Disney+ Hotstar. The Asia Cup is streaming free on mobile on Disney+ Hotstar.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka head-to-head

In the Asia Cup played in ODI format, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played 14 matches against each other with Men in Green winning just four matches and Sri Lanka securing 10 victories.

Overall in ODIs, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played 155 games with Pakistan winning 92, losing 58, four finishing without a result and one as a tie.

Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve). Shahnawaz Dahani, Zaman Khan (back-ups for injured Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah).

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Perera, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemantha