Dubai, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final is set to take place on September 13 at the Dubai International Stadium, featuring a much-anticipated clash between India and Sri Lanka. Ahead of the match, Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, expressed her belief that her team is capable of defeating any opponent.
After a tense semifinal victory against Pakistan, Athapaththu praised her team for their depth and resilience. She noted that the young players have shown remarkable potential, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
“The strength of our team lies in the number of players who can take responsibility under pressure,” Athapaththu stated. She highlighted key finishers such as Harshitha, Nilakshika, and Kavisha, emphasizing that most players are in good form and the bowling unit is performing well. “If we can execute our plans in the final, I believe we can beat any team,” she added.
Reflecting on their semifinal performance, Athapaththu admitted that while their batting and bowling were strong, they need to improve their fielding, as they dropped several catches.
In the semifinal match against Pakistan, the latter batted first and scored 130 runs for the loss of five wickets, with captain Fatima Sana leading the charge with 47 runs. Chasing a target of 131, Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious position at 33 for 4. However, a crucial partnership between Harshitha (36) and Kavisha (33) steadied the innings, bringing the score to 100. Nilakshi de Silva’s unbeaten 18 and Kushani’s 10 helped secure the victory, with Sri Lanka finishing at 134 for 6 in just 18.4 overs.
In the previous Asia Cup final held in 2024, Sri Lanka triumphed over India by eight wickets, adding to the excitement of the upcoming match.
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