Preview: Sri Lanka look to bounce back against UAE after shock defeat in opener

Sri Lanka’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 campaign started with a humbling against Namibia in the tournament’s opener – a result that leaves no room for error for the Asia Cup Champions.

The margin of the 55-run loss against the African side, and its impact on Sri Lanka’s net run rate, means that Dasun Shanaka’s side will have to push for a big win against United Arab Emirates. Two victories from this point doesn’t guarantee a place in the Super 12 stage, and it could all come down to NRR.

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A stunned Shanaka responded after the defeat: "We didn't execute our plans well. I think we went for the yorkers and we didn't execute with low full tosses and half volleys. I think that's where it went wrong. I think if they had stuck to that hard length, wicket-to-wicket, like the Namibian bowlers did really well, it should have been different.”

Opponents UAE will have prepared for a stern test against the Lankan spinners, who will have a big part to play in the contest.

The early stages of this tournament suggest that spin is set to be a big factor, and Sri Lanka have a well-balanced mix of slow bowlers, led by the consistent Wanindu Hasaranga.

UAE may not have the firepower of Namibia that troubled Sri Lanka so much on the opening day, but another blip for the Lankan batters could be terminal to their qualification chances.

Dasun Shanaka

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka’s rise has been a joy to watch, but he will be hurting following a demoralising opening defeat. It won’t come as a surprise if the 31-year-old leads by example with bat and ball to get his side on the board in Group A.

Captaincy Pick:

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Bhanuka Rajapaksa had a prolific run in Asia Cup 2022 as he top-scored for Sri Lanka with 191 runs in six innings. But his stuttering 20 runs off 21 balls summed up a lacklustre team showing against Namibia. Rajapaksa will be keen to make an impression on the tournament and help repair the damage.

Must-Have Pick:

Wanindu Hasaranga

Known for his flamboyant all-round skills, Wanindu Hasaranga is a sought-after T20 player. In merely 45 matches he has grabbed 72 T20I wickets for Sri Lanka at an economy of 6.72 and he has the ability to go big with the bat too. The Player of the Tournament in Asia Cup 2022, Hasaranga will be a huge threat to UAE.

Differential Pick:

Junaid Siddique

Junaid Siddique bagged 5/13 against West Indies in UAE’s warm-up match and he gave his heart and soul in picking up three crucial wickets during UAE’s unsuccessful attempt to defend 111 runs against Netherlands in their tournament opener. Siddique is likely to be the big threat to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (wk), Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana

UAE: Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Kashif Daud, Vriitya Aravind (wk), Zawar Farid, Basil Hameed, CP Rizwan (c), Aayan Afzal Khan, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan