Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup final: Afridi does not worry me, says Malinga

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the league match by 12 runs

Published Saturday, March 08, 2014

Sri Lankan cricketers congratulate Lasith Malinga (second left) after he dismissed Pakistani cricketer Misbah-ul-Haq during the opening match of the Asia Cup one-day cricket tournament at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, in Dhaka on February 25, 2014.

Rampaging Shahid Afridi and prolific Kumar Sangakkara have set the stage for a rousing contest when Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup one-day final in Dhaka on Saturday.

Angelo Mathews' Sri Lanka have been the dominant team in the five-nation event with four straight victories in the league, including a 12-run win over Pakistan in the tournament opener on February 25.

The charge was led by Sangakkara, the 36-year-old left-hander who has been in prime form during his team's current tour of Bangladesh which began with a bilateral series in January.

Sangakkara scored 75, 319 and 105 in two Test matches and 128 in the second one-day international to steer Sri Lanka to series wins in all three formats against the hosts.

The veteran has also played three match-winning innings in the Asia Cup, making 67 against Pakistan, 103 versus World Cup champions India and 76 against minnows Afghanistan.

He remains the leading scorer in the tournament with 248 runs despite falling cheaply for two in Thursday's last league match against Bangladesh.

“It is great to have Sangakkara in such good form, but the others will also need to step up and rally around him if we are to win,” Mathews said.

“Pakistan have shown how tough a side they are to beat. But we have our plans and are confident of doing well if we execute them well.”

Pakistan, the defending champions, bounced back after the loss against Sri Lanka to qualify for the final with three successive victories against Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh.

The mercurial Afridi fashioned two tense last-over wins, slamming an 18-ball 34 against India before making an astonishing 59 off 25 balls against Bangladesh.

Short boundaries at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium where even mis-hits land over the fence appear tailor-made for Afridi, and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq hoped for another power-packed display in the final.

“Afridi is our main player,” a grateful Misbah said.

“The kind of form he is in and the kind of confidence he shows, it's good for the Pakistan team.

“We just tell him to make sure he bats for at least 25-30 balls. If he does that he can score a 50. I'm really happy with the way he's playing.”

Pakistan Cricket Board official Zakir Khan said Afridi, Umar Gul, Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad were suffering from injury niggles, but he expected them to be fit for the final.

“Afridi has a hip strain and the others have minor niggles, but all of them have responded well to rest and treatment and should be available to play tomorrow,” Khan said in Dhaka on Friday.

Both teams boast of destructive bowling attacks with Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis the tournament's joint leader with nine wickets and Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal in second place with eight.

Sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who has taken six wickets, said Afridi's explosive game-changing form did not worry him.

“I am more concerned about how I bowl,” Malinga said.

“Afridi does not worry me and I don't think they (Pakistan) are thinking too much about me either.”

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Mirpur

Pakistan thrill against Sri Lanka efficiency.

                               Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Mirpur.

Match facts

March 8, 2014

Start time 14.00 local (0800 GMT)

Big Picture

After his team had narrowly beaten India, Angelo Mathews said Sri Lanka "do those little things right". In a tournament full of rash shots and missed opportunities on the field, Sri Lanka have committed fewer basic errors than all the other sides. It goes quite a way towards explaining their unbeaten record in the tournament so far.

Pakistan, on the other hand, threw away a winning position against Sri Lanka. They were 117 for 6 against Afghanistan thanks to the shot selection of their top order. Misbah-ul-Haq has twice been run out in comical fashion. Against Bangladesh, Abdur Rehman was barred from bowling when he had figures of 0-0-8-0. And yet, despite all that, Pakistan may well start the final as favourites.

After meeting each other in the opening game of the tournament, the two sides have taken divergent paths to the final. Sri Lanka, to put it a touch simplistically, have gone quietly about their business. Pakistan, on the other hand, have built up the sort of momentum that comes with winning thrilling matches. When you beat India by one wicket and chase 327 in your next game, you tend to believe you can win from any position.

Pakistan's batsmen, after an uncertain start to the tournament, have also found form. There's Shahid Afridi, of course, but there's also Mohammad Hafeez, who has scored half-centuries in his last two games, Ahmed Shehzad, who made a century against Bangladesh, and Fawad Alam, whose return to the side suddenly gave Pakistan someone who could hold their middle order together. It's almost a good thing for Pakistan, perversely, that Misbah, the man who usually does that job for them, has scored 0, 1 and 4 in the matches they have won.

Pakistan, though, have two major concerns going into the final. One is the form of their fast bowlers. Junaid Khan, Umar Gul and Mohammad Talha - their likely first-choice combination - have all been expensive, giving away close to or over run-a-ball. The second is the fitness of four of their players. Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Afridi and Gul have niggles of various kinds.

Of the four, Afridi, who picked up a hip injury in the game against Bangladesh, looked most in doubt, and showed signs of discomfort during Pakistan's training session on Friday. But their manager, Zakir Khan, said he was responding well to the physio's ministrations, and it seemed as if Pakistan wouldn't leave him out unless it became absolutely unavoidable.

Sri Lanka, for their part, haven't completely convinced as a batting unit. Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne have scored runs, but the rest of the top six have been patchy. Kusal Perera has tended to throw away starts, while Dinesh Chandimal and Mahela Jayawardene have looked out of form. Sri Lanka bat deep, though, and match-turning contributions in a final are as likely to come from a Chaturanga de Silva or a Thisara Perera as they are to come from a top-order batsman.

The pitches in Mirpur have been a little unpredictable, with one side of the square tending to produce uneven bounce and another throwing up good batting conditions. Spinners have played a massive role regardless of which pitch is used, though, and the most important mini-contest in the match could be the one between the two slow-bowling attacks.

In Ajantha Mendis, de Silva and Sachithra Senanayake, Sri Lanka have one potential match-winner and two capable ODI bowlers. Pakistan's spin attack, with Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi seems to hold a slight edge, especially in terms of the experience they have bowling as a unit.

Lahiru Thirimanne struck an accomplished century against Pakistan in the opening game of the tournament, and has continued to look good at the crease without making any other big scores. Batting up the order seems to suit his game, and a good innings in the final could win him a longer run as an opener even after Tillakaratne Dilshan returns to the side.

Mohammad Hafeez scored three centuries against Sri Lanka during the recent ODI series in the UAE, and has shown glimpses of that form in the Asia Cup. His bowling has been crucial as well, and he's done a useful job with the new ball. He'll probably do that in the final too, considering the number of left-hand batsmen in Sri Lanka's top order.

Team news

Ashan Priyanjan took two wickets with his offspin against Bangladesh and timed the ball sweetly during his brief stay in the middle. But he was in the side only because Sri Lanka had already qualified for the final, and he will most likely make way for Chandimal. Lasith Malinga should also regain his place, but it's hard to predict who they'll leave out in his place.

Sri Lanka (likely): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Lahiru Thirimanne, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Angelo Mathews (capt), 7 Chaturanga de Silva, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Sachithra Senanayake/Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Ajantha Mendis

Pakistan have a few fitness worries, with Afridi (hip), Shehzad (shoulder), Sharjeel (knee) and Gul (general soreness) at less than 100 per cent. None of the injuries are particularly serious, though, judging by the comments of their manager on the eve of the match, so they should be able to field their first-choice XI.

Pakistan (likely): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 4 Sohaib Maqsood, 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Umar Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Mohammad Talha, 11 Junaid Khan

Stats and trivia

·  Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met each other 12 times in tournament finals, and each side has won six times

·  Among batsmen who haven't scored an ODI century, Misbah-ul-Haq has the most career runs. On Saturday, he will go out for the toss alongside Angelo Mathews, who is ninth on that list.

Quotes

"I don't know, honestly. One day it looks like 200 is difficult, the next day on the same pitch you chase down 300-plus."

Misbah-ul-Haq on the vagaries of the Mirpur pitch

Karthik Krishnaswamy is a senior sub-editor.

Afridi, Shehzad among Pakistan's injury concerns

 Soon after Shahid Afridi had reached his half-century against Bangladesh on Tuesday, Pakistan's physio had run out to the field to attend to him. Struggling to move after that, Afridi was run out. Three days later, he was still walking gingerly when Pakistan trained on the eve of the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka.  

"Shahid Afridi has a grade one hip flexor strain," their manager Zakir Khan said. "Our physio is working on him. He's been given rest and treatment. 

	Ahmed Shehzad was struggling with his shoulder ahead of the Asia Cup final ©  Enlarge

"Hopefully tomorrow, before the start of the match we will know the complete situation about Afridi. He has responded well to the treatment. We are all analysing and assessing his situation. Tomorrow we will take the final decision about Afridi."

Afridi isn't the only Pakistan player with a fitness issue.

"We have little bit of niggles and strains to Ahmed Shehzad who was struggling with his shoulder," Zakir said. "He's also responding well to treatment. He's coming up well. Umar Gul was little bit stiff but he's also coming out of it."

Zakir added that Sharjeel Khan, who had missed the Bangladesh game with a knee injury, was "nearly 98% fit. He batted and fielded at the nets and looked good today."  

From these comments, it seemed as if Sharjeel and Gul would probably be fully fit in time to play the final. Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan's captain, didn't provide too many clues to the likelihood of Afridi and Shehzad making it.

"Obviously your main players make a difference to the side," Misbah said. "We are, however, mentally strong. You may have seen [Fawad] Alam played really well in absence of Sharjeel Khan. The confidence level is very high. All the members of the team have been performing well. There is a will to win. We hope to get them in the side but at the same time we're confident that even if they don't play, we have the boys in the bench who are capable and confident to win the game for us." 

Pakistan Take on Sri Lanka in Asia Cup Final

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Mirpur.

Dhaka: Defending champions Pakistan will have to contend with minor injury issues to key players Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul as they take on a consistent Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup tournament on Saturday.

Afridi, who has played a pivotal role in turning around the fortunes of Pakistan in this tournament, has suffered a grade one hip flexor strain and his availability will be known only on Saturday.

Pacer Gul is little bit "stiff" and Sharjeel Khan along with opener Ahmed Shehzad also have some niggles, going into the title clash.

The Sri Lankans, who had defeated the defending champions in the tournament opener, are yet to lose a match in the mega event of the sub-continent and they would hope that their campaign culminates with the title.

Pakistan's chances would depend on how they tame seasoned Kumar Sangakkara and handle the bowling of pacer Lasith Malinga and spinner Ajantha Mendis.

It was Malinga, who had taken key wickets of Misbah-ul-Haq and Afridi in their previous clash and Sangakkara is in prime form in this tournament. He has hit one century and two fifties and his rare failure was against Bangladesh on Thursday.

Pakistan, on the other hand have wriggled out of difficult situations to reach their second successive Asia Cup final and a lot of credit goes to Afridi for his fiery knocks of 34 and 59 against India and Bangladesh respectively.

Those two knocks not only revived the team's hopes of their title defence but also injected the much-needed spark and life to what had been a low key Asia Cup affair.

After shattering India's hopes, the 'boom-boom' Afridi returned to devastate the host country as he led Pakistan to a great win, chasing Bangladesh's highest ever 326, with his 18-ball half-century.

Those two knocks could not have come at a better time for Afridi who was facing a lot of flak back home for his string of failures. The all-rounder has single-handedly made Pakistan favourites against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka would look to do the things quietly with all the buzz surrounding Afridi.

Lankans would hope that the duo of Malinga and Mendis manage to rein in Afridi. It would be an interesting battle between Afridi against Malinga's toe-crushing yorkers and Mendis in his guile with the doosras.

For Sri Lanka, the form of Mahela Jayawardene would be a worry. He has managed just 36 runs from four innings. Pakistan would want their skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (78 runs) to get back among runs.

The best thing for the Lankans is that Sangakkara is in the middle of a dream run in Bangladesh as the senior pro is leading the Asia Cup run chart with 248 runs at an average of 248, something that has come on the back of his maiden triple century in Test series.

Teams from:

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt.), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Fawad Alam, Abdur Rehman, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Bilawal Bhatti, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali and Sharjeel Khan.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (Capt.), Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Ashan Priyanjan, Angelo Mathews, Chaturanga de Silva, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhammika Prasad.

Stats & trivia

• If Sri Lanka win they will be most successfull team in Asia Cup with India (5-times).

Match facts
Saturday March 8, 2014 (day/night)
Start time 1400 local (0800 GMT)

World's most expensive cities for 2014: Top 10

Soaring cost of cars and utilities as well as a strong currency have made Singapore the world's most expensive city, toppling Tokyo from the top spot, according to a survey Tuesday.

The survey, which examines prices across 160 products and services in 140 cities, is aimed at helping companies calculate allowances for executives being sent overseas.

"Improving sentiment in structurally expensive European cities combined with the continued rise of Asian hubs means that these two regions continue to supply most of the world's most expensive cities," Jon Copestake, the editor of the report, said in a statement.

The report said European cities were among the priciest in the recreation and entertainment categories, reflecting "a greater premium on discretionary income".

Oslo is third.

Zurich comes fourth.

The survey, which examines prices across 160 products and services in 140 cities, is aimed at helping companies calculate allowances for executives being sent overseas.

Sydney is fifth.

Tokyo's weakening yen saw it slide to sixth place, the position previously occupied by Singapore.

"Singapore's rising price prominence has been steady rather than spectacular," said a report accompanying the survey by the research firm. 

It said a 40 percent rise in the Singapore dollar along with "solid price inflation" pushed the country to the top of the twice-yearly survey from 18th a decade ago.

The report said Singapore's curbs on car ownership, which include a quota system and high taxes, made it "significantly more expensive than any other location when it comes to running a car".

A new Toyota Corolla Altis costs $110,000 in Singapore compared to around $35,000 in neighbouring Malaysia. 

Overall transport costs in Singapore are almost three times higher than those in New York, it said.

Tokyo was tied at sixth with Caracas. EIU said the Venezuelan capital's position was largely due to the imposition of an artificially high official exchange rate. Pic: Getty

New York, which serves as the base city for the survey, was ranked 26th, while Sydney and Melbourne came in at fifth and sixth respectively owing to a strong Australian dollar.

Melbourne is at 6th.

Geneva

Copenhagen comes in at 10th.

"In addition, as a city-state with very few natural resources to speak of, Singapore is reliant on other countries for energy and water supplies, making it the third most expensive destination for utility costs," the report said.

It also noted that Singapore is the priciest place in the world to buy clothes, as malls and boutiques in its popular Orchard Road retail hub import luxury European brands to "satisfy a wealthy and fashion-conscious consumer base".

Singapore has one of the world's highest concentrations of millionaires relative to its 5.4 million population. Its per capita income of more than $51,000 in 2012 masks a widening income gap between the richest and poorest.

India's financial centre Mumbai was ranked the world's least expensive city, joining other South Asian cities including Karachi, New Delhi and Kathmandu in the bottom of the pile.

One for the boys: Mandira Bedi with Shah Rukh Khan & Co

Bollywood actor Mandira Bedi with Shahrukh Khan.

At the launch of Tag Heuer’s Golden Carrera Watch event in Mumbai, Anchor Mandira Bedi of the strapped blouses fame, tried something very similar with Shah Rukh Khan, directors Tarun Mansukhani, Kunal Kohli, Punit Malhotra and Tanaaz Bhatia.

At the event, SRK surely needed reading glasses to read out some names etc on stage, but then he posed with the three directors on stage apart from company officials and even displayed watches on both hands at the event.

Surely, he wasn’t going to be in the lime light for some time. A lot of Page 3 faces also showed up at the event. With its marketing spend touching the highest ever, The watch company feels it is time to open more boutiques in the country!

Long and short of Bollywood fashion: Sonam Kapoor and Vidya Balan

Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor and Vidya Balan celebrating womanhood. (SASNKRITI MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT)

After wearing a see through dress at the Colors Party, Sonam kapoor decided to behave herself at the announcement of the 3rd L'Oreal Paris Femina Women Awards.

Dressed in a long outfit that completely covered her, Sonam made sure that there was no error of judgement this time around. 

She's a fashionista in the true sense of the word and knows to dress to the occasion.

 

Vidya Balan knows that she dresses up wrongly most of the times, but after Dirty Picture, she knows that people go Ooh La La over her acting alone.

So she feels that it is best to carry herself off in a saree gracefully rather than try anything smart when she comes on television.

 

And that is what she stuck to at a Women's Day event for a TV channel.

Better safe than saree!

Afridi blitz sees Pakistan chase 327 against Bangladesh

Shahid Afridi clubbed seven sixes during the Asia Cup match betwen Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur on March 4, 2014

Ahmed Shehzad plays a shot during the Asia Cup match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur on Tuesday March 4.

Shahid Afridi smashed the second fastest one-day half-century and Ahmed Shehzad hit a hundred to give Pakistan a three wicket win over Bangladesh on Tuesday and a place in the Asia Cup final.

.Shahid Afridi claps as Anamul Haque celebrates scoring a century 

during the Asia Cup match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur on Tuesday March 4

The 34-year-old, who hit two consecutive sixes to give Pakistan a one-wicket win over India on Sunday, was once again Pakistan's saviour as they chased down their highest-ever target of 327 in 49.5 overs in Dhaka.

Afridi overshadowed a brilliant 123-ball 103 by opener Ahmed Shehzad and a sedate 74 by Fawad Alam who both set the tone for the chase, but it was the aggression of Afridi which helped Pakistan overcame a tough resistance from the hosts.

Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka in Saturday's final.

 Having won Pakistan their previous match against India, Shahid Afridi walked in with Pakistan in an even more difficult situation against Bangladesh. With 52 balls remaining, Pakistan needed 102 runs to win. He proceeded to clout 59 off 25 balls, sending seven sixes soaring over the ropes. In between those big hits off the spinners, he kept his head about him, and was prepared to take singles and wait for the loose balls against the seam bowlers.

"I think that's the message given to Shahid Afridi, that at least he should give himself 20-25 balls," Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan's captain, said after his team's three-wicket win. "Just make sure that you play 25-30 balls. We know that when he plays 20-25 balls, he can score 50. I think that's what he's doing, and I'm really happy with the way he's playing."

Afridi's controlled aggression was in some ways reminiscent of how he had batted on the road to Pakistan winning the 2009 World T20 title in England. With another edition of that tournament mere days away, Misbah said Afridi's form boded well for Pakistan's prospects.

"I think that's the biggest plus for us, the way Shahid Afridi is playing, not only in this [Asia Cup] final, but also T20 World Cup is coming, so he's the main player, and the kind of form he is in, the kind of confidence, it's good for the Pakistan team."

Misbah said Pakistan could look to use him in a flexible role during the World T20. "He is always used in T20 whenever such a situation comes, he is promoted, and depending on the start his number changes," Misbah said. "I think, the kind of form he is in, Pakistan can use him anywhere in the order."

Pakistan's chase wasn't all about Afridi, of course. Ahmed Shehzad's century and his opening stand of 97 with Mohammad Hafeez laid a solid platform before Fawad Alam, returning to the ODI side after three-and-a-half years, guided the team through the closing stages in the company of Afridi and Umar Akmal. While most of the questions at the press conference were about Afridi's whirwind innings, Misbah kept drawing attention to the other batsmen's contributions.

"I think so," he said, when asked if Afridi's innings was one of the best he had seen. "Not only Shahid Afridi, but also the way Fawad Alam and Ahmed Shehzad played. After his 50, the way he picked up the run rate, it was almost 10 an over and he brought it down to 8, and then well supported by Fawad Alam, and the start of Hafeez was also crucial, and Shahid Afridi. I think all of them I think played much-needed knocks, and in the end Umar Akmal finished it well. In the end it was a great combination of all these batsmen who really won us the game."

With their successful chase of a 327-run target, Pakistan had shrugged a particularly clingy monkey off their backs. They had failed in their last 12 pursuits of 250-plus targets, the most recent instance coming in their opening match of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka, where they lost wickets in a heap to let go of a dominant position.

Asked what the team talk had been like following that defeat, Misbah said the team management, particularly their chief cricket consultant Zaheer Abbas, had stressed on the need for the batsmen to stay at the crease till the end.

"I think the message was very clear, even by the great Zaheer Abbas, that the kind of ability we have in our dressing room, especially our batsmen, if our batsmen play 50 overs, we can just chase any target," Misbah said. "That was the message even today when we started chasing, that we need to play 50 overs. The batsmen need to play 50 overs, so that was the task given by the management and me also, and we did it and it proved right at the end and we chased the target."