Much of a mediocre run at the DP Asia Cup 2022, India did not manage to get a big one in the bag as they didn’t qualify for the final of the tournament, this is due to their below par performance in the league stages of the tournament.

However, the most positive outcome of the tournament was getting to see the former skipper Virat Kohli get his groove back, the batter got his much awaited 71st international ton and the first in the shortest format of the game. Kohli achieved this feat during the Super 4 match against Afghanistan.

Virat Kohli made 122 off just 61 balls. His last international ton came back in 2019 in a Pink Ball Test match against Bangladesh at Kolkata.

Moreover, after getting to the three-digit mark, Virat took a moment and appreciated his wife, actress Anushka Sharma and daughter Vamika for being such pillars of strength in these tough times.

“Last two and a half years have taught me a lot. I am going to turn 34 in November. So, those celebrations are a thing of the past. Actually, I was bit shocked. This was a format where I least expected a ton. I have been working hard and this is a very special moment for me and for the team as well,” Virat Kohli had said after scoring his century.

“It was an accumulation of a lot of things. The team has been open and helpful. It gave me space to work on my game. I know there was a lot of stuff going on my outside. They really kept my perspective right. And I kissed my ring in the celebration as well. You see me standing here because of all the things that has been put into perspective by one person, who stood by me through all these difficult times – that’s Anushka. This hundred is dedicated to her and for our little daughter Vamika as well,” he added.

These words from the King have left former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting completely moved, the Aussie appreciated the batter and said such things go unspoken in men’s sports.

“It’s great to see him back in the runs. Great to see him back with a smile on his face. That’s the thing you know? He was so happy, and I guess (he’s) relieved at the end of that game. He obviously spoke very fondly about his wife’s influence on the last couple of years of his life as well, which is also very nice to hear. A lot of that stuff goes unspoken about, in men’s sport in particular,” said Ponting on ICC Review.

“Just the impact that your family and your very close ones have on you through your career. So, it’s nice to hear that but also great to see Virat back in the runs again,” concluded the Australian World Cup winning captain.

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Pakistan succumbed to yet another defeat by the Lankan Lions after they lost the DP Asia Cup 2022 final by 23 runs to Sri Lanka. Babar Azam and co. had the control at one point as Sri Lanka were 58/5 at one point, but despite winning the toss, the Shaheens could not crunch the opposition.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa hammered an unbeaten 71 to help Sri Lanka post 170/6. After that Sri Lankan bowlers bowled out Pakistan for 147 to claim their sixth Asia Cup title.

However, after the final got over, an Indian journalist had asked PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja to speak a few words for the fans after the loss. With this, the former cricketer was left fuming and he asked the journalist whether he was from India and also said that the Indian fans would be happy at the outcome of the match.

The journalist replied by saying that he is not, and he was asking a genuine question. Ramiz Raja just walked off and soon after, he also tried to snatch away the journalist’s phone.

“That’s not right Mr Chairman Taking my phone was not right,” the journalist wrote on his Twitter.

Although, there has not been any reciprocating statements from Ramiz Raja or the Pakistan Cricket Board on the matter as of now.

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Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf has become only the fourth fastest Pakistan bowler to scalp up 50 wickets in T20Is. The right arm medium pacer achieved this feat during the DP Asia Cup final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Stadium.

By dismissing Wanindu Hasaranga, Rauf joined Mohammad Amir, who also claimed his 50th wicket in his 41st T20I. Umar Gul, the current bowling coach of Afghanistan, who retired in 2010, is the fastest, having achieved the feat in 36 matches. Saeed Ajmal and Hasan Ali are second and third respectively.

As far as the Asia Cup final is concerned, Rauf had an amazing time on the field. Before getting the better off Hasaranga, Rauf is also accountable for the wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka.

However, Haris Rauf gained some limelight after showing his magic for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Afterwards, he played well for skipper Glenn Maxwell’s Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL).

Hence, Rauf is known for his ability to generate serious pace and batters have had a difficult affair on facing him. Rauf was also part of Lahore Qalandars earlier this year, as they won their first PSL trophy.

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Bhanuka Rajapaksa smashes an unbeaten 45 ball 71 to take Sri Lanka at 170/6 in their 20 overs. The Lankan Lions were almost on the verge of a fallout as they were 58/5 at a stage. However, apart from Rajapaksa, Dhanajaya de Silva (28) and Wanindu Hasaranga (36) also made contributions with the bat which helped the five-time Asian champs to a respectable total.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets to his name, while Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan scalped one wicket each.

Pakistan had won the toss and elected to bowl. For Pakistan, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah have been named back in the Playing 11. Whereas Sri Lanka went with the same squad. In the group stage of the tournament, both the teams lost one game out of three and in the Super 4 stage, they made their way into the finals after defeating India and Afghanistan respectively.

Moreover, Sri Lanka had thrashed Pakistan by five wickets in the last Super 4 match. It will be interesting to see that which side will crunch over the other to claim the ultimate title.

Hence, an interesting start for Pakistan as they claimed 9 runs without any legal ball bowled, No Ball, Wide Ball, Wide Ball, 5 Wide Ball, Wide Ball as Dilshan Madhushanka started off the second innings as a nightmare for the Sri Lankans.

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Its Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at the DP Asia Cup 2022 final in Dubai, a great contest for all the fans. Shaheen pacer Shahnawaz Dahani proved to be a great sport of the team, the bowler gifted his jersey to a Sri Lankan fan just before the start of the final at the Dubai International Stadium.

Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first and put the Lankan Lions up for some batting.

Moreover, Sri Lanka have not lost a match in the tournament and also, they will be defending a target after winning four consecutive games while chasing targets, which also includes the victory in the game against Pakistan of the Super 4 clash.

However, skipper Dasun Shanaka said he would’ve bowled first had he won his fifth toss in a row but was also happy to bat first in the final. Sri Lanka have been crowned the Asian champions five times, whereas Pakistan won it twice.

Here are the Playing 11 of both sides in the final:

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madhusan, Dilshan Madushanka.

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Well just before the final takes place on Sunday, the 11th of September, the two finalists, Sri Lanka and Pakistan meet before the big stage and it’s a Lankan victory and domination throughout the match.

However, Sri Lanka had faced Afghanistan in their first Super 4 match and beat them by 4 wickets. Pakistan beat India in their first Super4 match by 5 wickets.

Afterwards, Sri Lanka then beat India by 6 wickets in their second Super 4 match to book a place in the final. Pakistan too, won their second game by a close margin against Afghanistan by 1 wicket to head into the final of Asia Cup 2022.

Sri Lanka won the toss and made Pakistani batters to come on the crease first, likely, it all went in Sri Lanka’s favour as they bowled out the Men in Green on 121 with 5 balls to go in their innings.

The top scorer for the Shaheens was skipper Babar Azam, who made 30 runs in 29 balls. The Lankan Lions chased the score with 18 balls remaining. Pathum Nissanka was the pick of the batters, who made a 48 ball 55.

With the win, it will give a good boost and confidence to Sri Lanka heading into the finals on Sunday. Wanindu Hasaranga was adjudged the Player of the Match for his all-round performance in the game.

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Afghanistan assistant coach Raees Ahmadzai is certainly not happy and has lashed out at the Afghan players and the fans for the ugly incidents on and off the pitch during the Pakistan vs Afghanistan game of Super 4 stage of 2022 Asia Cup at Dubai.

Afghanistan restricted Pakistan to 118/9, and it was looking like they were going home with a victory until bowler Naseem Shah smacked two sixes in the final over to win the game and make the Shaheens a place in the finals of the tournament.

The intensity of the match was quite high, although, after the game, a few Afghanistan fans damaged the stadium property, breaking and uprooting the chairs and throwing them at fellow spectators due to their frustration.

Apart from that, earlier in the game, Fareed Ahmed Malik and Asif Ali were involved in a heated argument and it went over the line with Ali raising his bat to almost hit Malik. The players and umpire had to intervene.

“I think the players are well aware of the rules and regulations of the game but sometimes in the heat of the moment, sometimes you cannot control, and it comes out. The crowd should understand that this is just a game and sports should be treated as sports, not to be involved in anything critically or something,” said Raees Ahmadzai which was quoted by NDTVSports.com

“But again, if you say something it’s different, but physical violence it’s something every player should avoid. Sledging or talking to someone is different but the rules and regulations do not allow you to do physical violence. Another experience for our players. We will inform our players to be within the limit and not cross it,” added the assistant coach.

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Asif Ali and Fareed Ahmad have been fined for on-field altercation in the ongoing match on Wednesday between Afghanistan and Pakistan at Dubai. Pakistan’s Asif Ali and Afghanistan bowler Fareed Ahmed were fined on Thursday, 25 per cent of their match fees for their on-field altercation during their Asia Cup Super 4 match at the Dubai International Stadium.

Both the players have been punished for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the match between the two teams on Wednesday.

As per an ICC statement, Ali breached Article 2.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match”.

On the other hand, Fareed was found to have breached Article 2.1.12, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person, (even a spectator) during an International Match.” The players admitted their offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by the match referee Andy Pycroft.

The game was going in Afghanistan’s favour till the 19th over, and after the wicket of Asif, it was looking like a clear Afghan victory. Ahmad bowled a slow bouncer and got the better off Asif. Afterwards, Ahmad started celebrating after the wicket, while Ali was walking back to the dugout.

However, it was Pakistan who turned the tables around, as tailender Naseem Shah smashed two sixes to make sure the Shaheens have a place in the finals.

It will be Pakistan squaring off against Sri Lanka in the finals of the DP Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Stadium on the Sunday.

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Virat Kohli slammed his 71st century in international cricket against Afghanistan at the Dubai International Stadium of the DP Asia Cup. Kohli ended his much awaiting drought of centuries after smashing 122* of 61 balls.

India skipper Rohit Sharma was on rest, in his absence, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul opened up in the innings and went all hell loose on the Afghan bowlers. Kohli last international hundred came back in 2019 in a Pink Ball Test match against Bangladesh.

After seen the King roar back again, the social media fanbase has gone on a roll:

Moreover, this is Virat Kohli’s first century in T20I, this makes him a batter to score centuries in all three formats. He is on equal position with Ricky Ponting (71 hundreds) and only behind Sachin Tendulkar (100 hundreds).

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After almost 2.5 years, the wait is now over for all Virat Kohli fans as the king has hit a smacking century, a 61 ball 122 against Afghanistan on Thursday at the Dubai International Stadium of the DP Asia Cup.

The drought of centuries is over, and moreover, it’s a first in T20I cricket. After 1020 days, Kohli has got his groove back and was smashing the ball all around the park. With his special knock, India managed to put up a total of 212/2 in their 20 overs.

Despite winning the toss, things were not on the brighter side for Afghanistan.

With the hundred, Kohli is now at par with Ricky Ponting in terms of most international centuries, both of them have 71, while Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar is on top of the mountain with 100 tons to his name.

The former skipper had last hit a hundred at a D/N match against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in November 2019.

“I know there was a lot of stuff going on the outside, but they really kept my perspective right and I kissed my ring in the celebrations as well. You see me standing like this right now and all the things being put in perspective have been done by one person, who stood by me through all these difficult times that is Anushka,” said Virat Kohli.

The innings had 6 sixes and 12 boundaries for the score of 122*. Furthermore, this is the highest score by an Indian batter in T20I cricket

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