Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa said that the Islanders wanted to show the whole world that they are an aggressive unit and they did it fantastically by winning the Asia Cup 2022 title in the UAE.
Sri Lanka couldn't host the Asia Cup 2022 due to an economic crisis and political unrest in the country, but the team beat all the odds to clinch their Asia Cup sixth title by defeating Pakistan by 23 runs in the final in Dubai on Sunday (September 11).
Rajapaksa, who hit a stunning 71*, hopes that this Asia Cup victory will bring smiles to the Sri Lankan people during a difficult time in the country, while stressing that they will try to carry the momentum forward in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa said in the post-match conference: “We all just wanted to show the whole world, a couple of decades back that we had some sort of aggression in our side. And we wanted to create those moments again. I think, as a unit, we are doing that fantastically well at the moment. We want to look forward to the World Cup as well and to keep up this momentum.”
He added, “As a nation, I think it’s a great win … with all the crisis happening back home, these are tough times for Sri Lankans. We are glad and hope that we brought some smiles to their faces.”
Rajapaksa further said the last ball six against Naseem Shah gave the much-needed momentum to Sri Lanka in the final against Pakistan.
He explained: “The last ball six and the last over helped us with the momentum and this is a game of momentum. It was not easy out there. Pakistan were bowling well. When Wanindu came in, we got a plan. We wanted to be positive all through. When Iftikhar was bowling, Wanindu said that he would attack him. But thankfully, both of us went hard.”
He signed off by saying, “I had to change my game because the Pakistanis were on top. We wanted to spend some time in the crease and that helped in getting 170. When Chris (Silverwood) came out to talk to us after the 10th over, I told him that 140 was a good score. But we stayed till the end and the target was much different.”
(Firstpost inputs)
