The much-anticipated match is scheduled to commence at 3:30 pm Bangladesh time at the iconic R Premadasa Stadium.

India, an astounding eight-time champion, embarked on an untroubled journey to the final, only to face a stark reality check against Bangladesh in the Super Four stage.

Their unexpected six-run defeat, marked by India resting five key players, provides food for thought regarding their bench strength. Except for Shubman Gill’s spectacular century, Indian batting struggled against Bangladesh’s pace and spin.

Adding to India’s worries is the injury to all-rounder Axar Patel as the men in blue strive to win the continental title for the first time since 2018, aiming to gain momentum for the upcoming World Cup.

Sri Lanka’s path to the final has been marred by injuries to key players, starting the tournament without their four frontline bowlers, including Hasaranga de Silva. On the eve of the final, they suffered another setback, losing their premier spinner, Maheesh Theekshana.

Despite the odds, Sri Lanka has managed to reach the final, showcasing their ability to excel in challenging situations, a trait they have exhibited throughout the competition.

In the context of this being the sixth match in nine days, the pitch is expected to be on the slower side, favoring spinners. However, overhead conditions, particularly rain predictions for both Sunday and the reserve day, Monday, might significantly impact the proceedings.

Iyer had recently returned from a lengthy injury break to participate in the Asia Cup 2023 group-stage match against Pakistan. In that game, he scored 14 runs off nine balls. However, during the Super Fours round match against India and Pakistan, just before the toss, he experienced a recurrence of his back issues, forcing the team management to make a last-minute change to the playing XI.

According to a report by Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials, National Cricket Academy (NCA) staff, and the team management in Colombo have been closely monitoring Iyer’s condition.

• Match: Super Four 4th Match, IND vs SL
• Date: 12 Sep 2023
• Time: 03:00 PM IST
• Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

This exciting encounter is scheduled to take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, September 12.

The Indian team has faced a demanding schedule, playing matches on consecutive days due to the rescheduling of their clash with Pakistan to the reserve day on Monday, September 11. Both teams are eager to secure a favorable outcome in their quest to enhance their prospects of advancing toward the championship showdown in the ACC event.

The pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo offers a balanced playing surface. Fast bowlers can anticipate good bounce and the potential for lateral movement here. On the other hand, batsmen stand a chance to reap rewards for their skillful stroke-play. Captains winning the toss might prefer to chase the target.

Unfavorable Weather Forecast: 95% Chance of Rain for Cricket Match, with Max Temperature at 29°C, 81% Humidity, and Wind Speed of 18 km/h

Prediction for Today’s Game: India Predicted to Emerge Victorious

The Asia Cup 2023 is now approaching its thrilling finale, with only a handful of games remaining in the Super Four stage. The finalists are yet to be determined, and India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are all vying for a spot in the championship match.

The upcoming match holds significant importance in this race to the final. It promises to be an intense showdown between two of the most accomplished teams in Asia Cup history. On September 12th (Tuesday), India will square off against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The victor will move one step closer to securing a coveted spot in the championship game.

India: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha

In pursuit of 258 for a much-needed victory, the Tigers were dismissed for 236 in 48.1 overs, leaving their chances in the regional tournament hanging by a thread.

To keep their Asia Cup dreams alive, Bangladesh must now secure a convincing win against neighboring India at the same venue this Friday. However, their fate also hinges on other results falling in their favor.

With two points each, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played one game each, while Bangladesh finds themselves winless in two Super Four matches. India completes the competition lineup.

Towhid Hridoy was the standout performer for the visitors, notching up 82 runs off 97 balls, which included seven fours and a six. However, after his departure, Bangladesh’s hopes crumbled.

Maheesh Theekshana, captain Dasun Shanaka, and Matheesha Pathirana claimed three wickets each for the home side.

In their innings, Sri Lanka reached 257/9, thanks to Sadeera Samarawickrama’s attacking 93 in what was a turbulent batting performance.

Bangladesh chose to bowl first in this must-win game, and their fast bowlers, Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, excelled, capturing three wickets apiece to restrict Sri Lanka’s scoring.

Despite early setbacks, Kusal Mendis (50) and Samarawickrama managed to put Sri Lanka on course with crucial partnerships, ultimately setting a competitive total on an uneven pitch.

Samarawickrama’s half-century in just 47 balls, along with a 60-run partnership with Shanaka (24), provided the home fans with hope.

Rain had disrupted the tournament, but the captains were greeted with bright sunshine at the toss.

Bangladesh made one change from their previous loss in Lahore, with left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed replacing all-rounder Afif Hossain. Sri Lanka, hosting the tournament alongside Pakistan, remained unchanged from their earlier matches.

• Match: 8th Match, SL vs BAN
• Date: 9 Sep 2023
• Time: 03:00 PM IST
• Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

The Asia Cup 2023 Super Four kicked off with a match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Lahore, a contest that Pakistan comfortably won, putting them closer to securing a spot in the final. Following a two-day break, the second Super Four clash is set to unfold.

This upcoming match will showcase a battle between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, scheduled for September 9, a Saturday. Both teams advanced from Group B, with Sri Lanka emerging as the victors in that encounter. Bangladesh faced defeat against Pakistan, and another loss in this match would eliminate them from further contention.

This upcoming match carries significant importance for both teams, but considering Bangladesh’s recent struggles and substantial defeat, we anticipate Sri Lanka to emerge victorious in Colombo on Saturday.

Out of the 151 ODIs contested at the R.Premadasa Stadium, the team batting first has emerged victorious in 76 of them. Therefore, it is probable that the side winning the toss will opt to bat first in this match.

The Colombo pitch significantly favors spinners, but the presence of rain and overcast conditions can also provide assistance to the pacers. Batting will pose a considerable challenge in this venue, making it advisable for the team that wins the toss to opt for batting second.

In the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 Super 4, 2nd match, Sri Lanka (SL) will clash with Bangladesh (BAN) at Colombo’s R Premdasa Stadium on September 9. Sri Lanka demonstrated their prowess in the league stage, securing victories in both of their encounters to lead the Group A standings. Conversely, Bangladesh entered the Super Four stage with a setback, having lost their match against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka’s previous game featured a showdown with Afghanistan, where they won the toss and chose to bat. Sri Lanka made an impressive start, forging a strong opening partnership that yielded 63 runs. This was followed by several other fruitful partnerships. Although there was a brief slump in the middle overs, the lower-order batsmen delivered, allowing Sri Lanka to post a formidable total of 291 runs. Afghanistan’s openers fell quickly, but their middle-order batsmen put up a strong fight, placing them in a commanding position. However, a steady loss of wickets throughout their innings ultimately cost them the match, as they fell short of the target by just two runs, getting bowled out.

In their previous encounter, Bangladesh faced Pakistan after winning the toss and opting to bat. Unfortunately, Bangladesh struggled to capitalize on the batting-friendly conditions and lost their top-order batsmen cheaply. It wasn’t until the fifth wicket that they managed to establish a noteworthy partnership. Thanks to some resilient contributions from Shakib and Rahim, Bangladesh managed to post a total of 193 runs. However, Pakistan faced little difficulty in chasing down this target, comfortably securing a seven-wicket victory with over ten overs to spare.

Sri Lanka: D Karunaratne, C Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, D Shanaka (C), D de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, K Mendis (wk), S Samarawickrama, Matheesha Pathirana, K Rajitha, M Theekshana

Bangladesh: Liton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Afif Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Tawhid Hriday, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Shamim Hossain Patwari, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taskin Ahmed, Shariful Islam and Hasan Mahmud.

Captain: Litton Das
Vice-Captain: Dhananjaya de Silva
Mushfiqur Rahim, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

• Match: 6th Match, AFG vs SL
• Date: 5 Sep 2023
• Time: 03:00 PM IST
• Venue: Gaddafi International Cricket Stadium, Lahore

In a highly anticipated matchup, Afghanistan is set to face Sri Lanka in the 5th match of the Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in Lahore. Both teams recently locked horns with Bangladesh in their respective previous games.

Afghanistan faced an 89-run defeat against Bangladesh, currently placing them in the third position on the Group B points table. Their net run rate stands at -1.780.

In contrast, Sri Lanka kicked off their campaign with a notable 5-wicket victory over Bangladesh, positioning them at the top of the points table in Group B with a net run rate of +0.951.

In the 50-over format, these two teams have engaged in ten thrilling battles to date. Sri Lanka emerged victorious in six of these encounters, while Afghanistan claimed three wins. Additionally, one match in 2022 concluded without a decisive result. Another exhilarating contest is on the horizon as these teams clash on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka’s ODI squad boasts a mix of experienced veterans and emerging talents. Their batting lineup features accomplished power-hitters in the ODI format, enhancing Sri Lanka’s outlook for today’s match. The match prediction for the 6th Match is as follows:

Sri Lanka is favored with a 60% likelihood of clinching victory.
Afghanistan, conversely, carries a 40% chance of winning the 6th Match today.

The team that wins the toss is likely to choose to bat first. Afghanistan, who faced a loss in their last game while bowling first, may prefer to set a target this time. Given Gaddafi Stadium’s reputation as a high-scoring venue, opting to bat first seems like a sensible strategy. Sri Lanka is also expected to adopt a similar approach in this regard.