By Srian Obeyesekere
The 2025 Asia Cup Super Four kick off between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on altogether different terrain of a Dubai bowler fri friendly slow surface progressively dictated by the dew does points out to a battle royal. While the spinners are expected to play a big hand as winning the toss as much to do with the final outcome that would put the onus on Sri Lanka’s leg spin trump card Wanindu Hasaranga and either Dunith Wellalage or Mahees Theekshana depending which of the two would play, and Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain and Shamim Hossain to excel, the batting thrust would revolve on the sturdiest who would stand up to anting up the vital runs that would make the ultimate difference between the two sides.
In that countdown, Charith Asalanka’s charges go out favourites on an unbeaten tournament record of three wins to topping Group B on the shine of a much improved all-round cohesiveness in run making and wicket taking. Despite an yet lurking middle order worry the batting has come good fronted principally by upfront Pathum Nissanka, the leading run getter with 124 runs while co-opener Kusal Mendis has delivered when it really mattered as demonstrated by his match winning unbeaten 74 against Afghanistan. In sn overly scenario of Nissanka who has been the rock fortress not finding the ideal support roles where he has reveled a more or less loner, newcomer Kamil Mishara bringing sn atom of promise to the pivotal No 3 slot by his match winning 46 against Bangladesh and Kamindu Mendis throwing his weight further down and as much Wanindu Hasaranga shedding a long injury setback to coming alive in a salvo unbeaten 20 to batting Sri Lanka in a race for 9 runs off the last over in beating back minnows Hong Kong has been high on song stuff.
Similarly. his all-round clout with the ball that was a missing link in the Lankan attack has injected new fire to go with the comeback form of fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera as much to go with the form of 4 for 18 match winner with the ball Nuwan Thushsra versus Afhhanistan.
Afghanistan’s let downs have been mainly skipper Litton Das who has not been able to maintain the fine form with which he arrived in taking over the captaincy reins. Similarly, the form of strike bowler Mustafizur Rahman has dipped in the tournament. In that sense, Bangladesh will be looking to their two heavyweights to deliver when it matters most.
