Pakistan opt to bowl against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup final

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam won the toss and elected to field first against Sri Lanka as they bid for their third Asia Cup title on Sunday.

Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan return to the team which lost to Sri Lanka in the last Super Four match of the Twenty20 tournament, a curtain-raiser for next month's T20 World Cup in Australia.

"Our confidence level is high. As a team you want to reach the final and win it," Azam said at the toss in Dubai.

"As a team, we have played very well. Every match we've had a new man of the match, everyone has stepped up."

Sri Lanka, who had to abandon plans to host the competition due to political unrest, bounced back from an embarrassing opening defeat by Afghanistan and make the final for the 11th time in the tournament.

The island nation, led by Dasun Shanaka, have won four successive matches chasing but will now have to set a target. The team is unchanged from their previous win over Pakistan.

"We would've bowled as well, but happy to bat first since it is the final," said Shanaka.

"We've been playing some good cricket. Want to continue that. Biggest positive has been that the batsmen have stood up, especially the openers.

"(Dilshan) Madushanka and Maheesh (Theekshana) have been great too, good cricket before the World Cup. The record has been good for us in the final and we are looking forward another championship."

Sri Lanka have won the Asia Cup five times.

India, who won the previous edition that was in the 50-over format, and Afghanistan bowed out in the Super Four stage.

Teams

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

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

Umpires: Anil Chaudhary (IND), Masudur Rahman (BAN)

TV Umpire: Bismillah Jan Shinwari (AFG)

Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

Source: BSS/AFP