Asian Cup 2022: From ‘Under’ to Asian Champion – The Story of Sri Lanka’s Rise

“I think in T20 cricket anything can happen, we can be back in the next game,” a Sri Lanka captain gutted. Dasun Shanaka spoke after his team’s disappointing loss to Afghanistan in the opening match of the 2022 Asian Cup. Many pundits wrote in the margins after the loss. Honestly, they weren’t among the favorites to win the tournament either. Regardless of the negotiations around, the team believed in its ability – so much so, that they eventually won the 2022 Asian Cup – their 6th title – by beating teams like India and Pakistan, the who is considered to be the favorite, on the go. to glory.

CHAMPION!

The team won the Asian Men’s Cup for the third time!#RoaringForGlory #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/t3RmkBan4t

– Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) September 11, 2022

An unforgettable start

At first, it looked like the 2022 Asian Cup was not for Sri Lanka. The tournament, which was supposed to take place at their home ground, was moved to the UAE due to the island nation’s unprecedented economic crisis.

Adding salt to the wound, the Lankans lost their opening match against Afghanistan by 8 goals. Their smashers failed miserably and were eliminated to 105. To make Sri Lanka more miserable, Afghanistan went home after just 10.1 rounds. Frustration peaked for the five-time Asian champions later, but their faith turned the tables.

Not the result we wanted, but we will look to recover in the games ahead. #AsiaCup2022 #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/B6rKR7ozuc

– Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) August 27, 2022

The return and rise to glory

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in a tense chase to enter the 2022 Asian Cup Super 4. A thrilling victory that seemed like a blue moon came for the Lankans that soon became their game at the tournament.

Sri Lanka avenged the loss to Afghanistan with a 4-stroke victory in the Super 4 before beating favorites India with a shock 6. They even beat Pakistan before meeting the team in the final.

A sensational comeback story is in the works but Dasun Shanaka and company still need to get over the final hurdle to make it all count and here it is!

D-Day

With their countrymen still suffering at home due to the economic crisis, here is the Sri Lankan team at the Dubai International Stadium, all gearing up for the summit clash with Pakistan. A win can give their nation something to rejoice in during difficult times and will also lift the morale of the entire team, which has fallen short in the past with their performances.

It is not that Sri Lanka did not stun their opponents ahead of this match. Whether it’s Australia or Pakistan in the recent past, even the best places in business have received the brilliance of Sri Lanka. But consistency has long been this faction’s biggest enemy. However, this time they have a different story to tell.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to hit the stick first. The team led by Dasun Shanaka won all the matches in the tournament while chasing had no choice but to target Pakistan under the famous “Ring of Fire”.

Sri Lanka is 58/5 in 8.5 rounds and again many could have eliminated them. But how can this be worried for a team that has reached the final of the 2022 Asian Cup with all odds.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa (71 years old, not over 55) played a penalty kick for Sri Lanka and the pitchers did their job well in the second half to win 23 games for the team, helped them win their 6th Asiad championship.

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“It can happen to any team in the world,” Dasun Shanaka said again of the loss to Afghanistan but this time the odds were in his and his men’s favor.

“It happened for a good reason. We had serious discussions after that game. Each individual did well for us and that’s how we became champions,” the team said. Sri Lanka’s chief confidently concludes with a great comeback story that will make rounds for the ages.

Now that’s how the champions celebrate!https://t.co/ruP7lLtgnH!

Send us your celebration video using hashtags #RoaringForGlory ! pic.twitter.com/LpijSdLaAq

– Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) September 11, 2022

In the words of Jim George: “It’s not how you start, but how you end!”