- By Vishal Pushkar
- Wed, 13 Sep 2023 03:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a tense yet ultimately convincing victory, India secured their place in the final of the 2023 Asia Cup with a win over Sri Lanka in their second Super 4 match on Wednesday. This victory followed their comprehensive performance against Pakistan, which extended over two days. Against Sri Lanka, India had to dig deep to earn their spot in the title decider, making them the first team to qualify for the final. The second finalist will be determined from the upcoming match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with Bangladesh already eliminated from contention after losing both of their Super 4 games.
Sri Lanka, the defending champions from the previous year's Asia Cup, currently have one win and one loss in this edition. Based on their performance against India, it appears that Pakistan will face a tough challenge in their quest to beat Sri Lanka and secure a spot in the final. This is especially true if key bowlers like Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah remain unavailable for Pakistan. The possibility of an India-Pakistan clash in the final remains intriguing and eagerly anticipated by cricket fans.
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The current standings in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2023 paint an interesting picture. India currently leads the pack with an unblemished record, having won both of their matches. Their impressive net run rate of +2.690 virtually guarantees them a spot in the final, making it highly likely that they will finish among the top two sides in this stage.
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Following India, Sri Lanka holds the second position with one win in two matches and a net run rate of -0.200. Pakistan, too, has one win in two games but lags behind in terms of net run rate with -1.892.
For Pakistan to qualify for the final, they must emerge victorious against Sri Lanka, who will be playing their final Super 4 match in their home conditions. However, the challenge is compounded by the risk of rain interruptions, which could potentially jeopardize Pakistan's hopes of setting up the much-anticipated first-ever Indo-Pak final in the Asia Cup.
In terms of historical success in the ODI format of the Asia Cup, India has the most impressive track record, having clinched the title on six occasions. Pakistan has won the tournament twice, while Sri Lanka has claimed the ODI Asia Cup title five times.