Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup dream came crashing down after back-to-back defeats to Bangladesh and Pakistan, leaving their final Super Four clash against India in Dubai on Friday a dead rubber.
Charith Asalanka’s side had opened the tournament in style, sweeping all three group matches and bundling out Afghanistan, a side fast becoming a white-ball powerhouse. Hopes were high of joining India in the final, but while the defending champions powered on unbeaten, Sri Lanka’s campaign collapsed under pressure.
Muddled Planning, Misplaced Reliance
Sri Lanka’s planning has been muddled for some time, particularly in T20 cricket, their weakest format. Too often, they field all-rounders who “bat a bit and bowl a bit”, rather than trusting specialists. On batting-friendly decks where the ball doesn’t grip, those options get exposed.
At home, where spin assists, the all-rounders chip in. Abroad, it unravels. Instead of four genuine bowlers and part-time support, Sri Lanka regularly field only three front-liners, piling pressure on the rest.
The batting blueprint is just as fragile. Reliant on openers to provide momentum, the middle order struggles once they fall early.
“Spin play must sharpen”
Former international Russel Arnold, now on commentary duty, pointed to Sri Lanka’s struggles against spin as a glaring weakness.
In both Super Four games, between overs seven and 14, we scored less than a run a ball. That’s when the spinners were operating and we need to rethink our approach.
“In the group stage we handled Afghanistan’s spinners well. But overall our play against spin must sharpen. Against Pakistan, we managed only eight runs off Abrar Ahmed’s four overs — that simply won’t cut it.”
Lessons Ahead of Tougher Tests
Sri Lanka’s struggles extend beyond spin. Strike rates are a concern, with too few batters touching 130, while India boast multiple players cruising at 140 and beyond. The former champions return home on Saturday after facing India, with urgent soul-searching on the agenda. A bilateral series against England and a tri-nation event with Pakistan and Afghanistan loom as crucial preparation ahead of the World Cup.
For Sri Lanka, the first order of business will be to nail down the right combination and find batters capable of not just surviving spin, but milking it. Unless they get their house in order, they risk showing up at the World Cup with little more than hope.
