Pakistan suffered a comprehensive 23-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2022 final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 11).
In the all-important game, Sri Lanka rode on Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s unbeaten 71 off 45 balls to post 170/6 on the board after being reduced to 58/5 at one stage.
In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 147 in their allotted 20 overs. It was a listless batting display as most of them fell for a single-digit score. While Mohammad Rizwan struck 55 off 49 balls, his knock lacked intent and failed to keep the required run rate under check.
After the match, out-of-favour Pakistan batter Shoaib Malik posted a cryptic tweet, seemingly taking a jibe at his omission from the Asia Cup squad.
Taking to the micro-blogging site, Malik wrote: "When will we come out from friendship, liking & disliking culture? Allah always helps the honest."
Notably, Shoaib Malik's exclusion from the Asia Cup squad sparked a debate as the veteran campaigner had been consistently performing in the middle-overs for Pakistan and other teams he had been playing in T20 leagues across the globe.
After the failure of the middle-order in the Asia Cup, it would be interesting to see if Malik gets the nod for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022, slated to be held in Australia from October 16 to November 13.
Shoaib Malik's last T20I appearance for Pakistan was in November 2021 against Bangladesh at Dhaka.
