Why 2025 Asia Cup’s dream final is Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
If we strip away the politics, the Asia Cup so far has actually served up some proper cricketing entertainment -- just not from the two teams everyone can't stop talking about: India and Pakistan.
The archrivals have been embroiled in off-field controversies that had little to do with the bat and ball, leaving the drama on the pitch to the other sides.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. And what a show it's been. Four matches featuring Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan delivered edge-of-the-seat moments.
Take Hong Kong-Sri Lanka match in Abu Dhabi on September 15: it almost ended in a shocker. Sri Lanka were hanging by a thread, needing 23 off 17 with just four wickets in hand, before Wanindu Hasaranga smashed a nine-ball 20 to snuff out Hong Kong's dreams.
Bangladesh versus Afghanistan the next day was another thriller. The Tigers defended 154 and eked out an eight-run win -- a game that went right down to the wire.
And then came September 18, the last Group B match: Sri Lanka eliminated Afghanistan with a six-wicket win off eight balls to spare, handing Bangladesh a ticket into the Super Four.
That game wasn't just about sheer excitement of cricket, though. It was heartbreaking. During the match, young Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage, who had conceded five sixes to Mohammad Nabi, lost his father.
Yet just a day later, he returned to face Bangladesh in the Super Four opener after performing the funeral rituals back home. The support from teammates, coaches, former players and fans -- both in person and via social media -- was a shining example of sport's human side.
Contrast that with the India-Pakistan clashes, which have been far from cricket at its purest.
In the Super Four rematch, unwanted on-field altercations and gestures marred the proceedings, and India's captain took a non-sporting tone in the post-match presser. Pakistan boycotted the formalities yet again. The spirit of the game, once sacred, took a serious hit.
Previously, Group A fixtures involving Oman and hosts UAE barely registered thanks to one-sided results, with India and Pakistan simply dispatching their opponents on autopilot.
The tournament's structure -- crafted to maximise India-Pakistan encounters, given they haven't played a bilateral series in over a decade -- was turning out to be a gamble. While the archrivals hogged attention, teams like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Afghanistan risked exiting without facing them.
Sure, India are overwhelming favourites to reach the final and lift the trophy once more. But judging by what we've seen on the pitch, it would be far more exciting -- and far less tainted -- if we end up witnessing a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka final on September 28 in Dubai.
No politics, no boycotts, just pure cricket: the kind that creates drama, stirs emotions, and keeps fans -- old and new -- coming back for more.
As things stand, Sri Lanka's clash with Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday could well decide which of the two stays alive in the tournament.
A win for Sri Lanka would not only keep them afloat but also open the door for a dream scenario where, if they later topple India and Bangladesh manage to beat either India or Pakistan, both the Lions and the Tigers could even surpass India on points or net run rate to contest the final.
On the flip side, a defeat against Pakistan would all but end Sri Lanka's hopes, leaving them clinging to a slim chance: Bangladesh pulling off back-to-back wins over India and Pakistan, and then the islanders themselves shocking India in the final Super Four fixture.
And let's not forget: a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka final would add extra spice to a rivalry that's been simmering ever since the infamous 'Nagin dance' episode of 2018. Since then, almost every clash between the Tigers and the Lions has carried an edge -- competitive, emotional, and impossible to ignore.
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