Asia Cup 2022 LIVE: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan LIVE: 72 hours before their opening match against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka arrived in Dubai on Wednesday. Dasun Shanaka & Co were caught up in a political muddle, forcing Sri Lanka Cricket to announce the squad only on August 20, way after the deadline on August 8. However, the young squad will be ready to make an underdog title charge. Follow Sri Lanka at Asia Cup Cricket Live on InsideSport.IN.
Dasun Shanaka has been entrusted with the captaincy job yet again. While Sri Lanka have plenty of experience playing in the UAE, they will have to go against the overwhelming favourites India and Pakistan. Sri Lanka are in Group B alongside Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Asia Cup 2022 LIVE: After long DELAY, Sri Lanka leave for Asia Cup, to have official practice on Thursday, Follow LIVE Updates
While India and Pakistan will have their first official practice sessions on Wednesday evening, Sri Lanka will have their practice on Thursday. Afghanistan will be the first team to hit the nets first. Rashid Khan & Co arrived in Dubai before all other teams.
Asia Cup 2022 LIVE: After long DELAY, Sri Lanka leave for Asia Cup, to have official practice on Thursday, Follow LIVE Updates
Asia Cup 2022 Practice Schedule:
- Afghanistan at 4 PM IST
- India at 6 PM IST
- Pakistan at 6 PM IST
- Sri Lanka 4 PM IST on Thursday
- Bangladesh 6 PM IST on Thursday
📸 Sri Lanka Team led by Dasun Shanaka left the island for UAE to take part in the Men’s #AsiaCup2022.🛫#roaringforglory pic.twitter.com/gg0PttVEyS
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 24, 2022
Asia Cup 2022 LIVE: What took SLC so long to announce the squad?
- Sri Lanka was the original host of the Asia Cup Cricket T20.
- But ACC moved the tournament out to the UAE due to Sri Lanka’s political crisis.
- The official broadcaster Star Sports requested the ACC to shift the venue out as the country is facing an acute fuel shortage.
- It would have resulted in logistical hassles.
- Following ACC’s decision to shift the tournament to UAE, SLC signed a memorandum of understanding with UAE Cricket. It was done to carry out the logistical arrangements jointly.
- But it miffed the Sri Lankan government. They considered it a national embarrassment especially when Sri Lanka hosted Australia and Pakistan successfully.
- Lankan govt alleged that SLC did not do enough to retain the hosting rights and caved into ACC and Star Sports.
- The government only approved the Sri Lankan team for Asia Cup on Friday.
- The government has also finally allowed the SLC team to travel to the UAE.
- The SLC officials on Friday handed the Asia Cup 2022 trophy to UAE Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Al Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan.
- The team led by Dasun Shanaka reached Dubai on Wednesday.
Asia Cup 2022 LIVE: After long DELAY, Sri Lanka leave for Asia Cup, to have official practice on Thursday, Follow LIVE Updates
Sri Lanka Squad Asia Cup: Dasun Shanaka (Capt), Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Charith Asalanka (VC), Bhanuka Rajapaksha (WK), Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanidu Hasaranga, Mahesh Theekshana, Jeffery Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrenna, Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Dinesh Chandhimal (WK), Nuwanindu Fernando
Sri Lanka Asia Cup Fixture:
- August 27: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan @ Dubai, 7:30 PM IST
- September 1: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh @ Dubai, 7:30 PM IST
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