Charith Asalanka has no doubt where the trophy currently lives. In his mind, Sri Lanka arrive in the UAE as defending champions – never mind that India lifted the most recent Asia Cup, staged in the 50-over format in 2023. The tournament alternates formats to align with the next global event, and with a T20 World Cup on the horizon in 2026, the 2025 edition returns to the shortened game that Sri Lanka won in 2022.
“Mentally, the fact that we are defending champions is a really good thing,” the 27-year-old captain said before Saturday’s opener against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi. “It was a lot of these players that played in that last tournament here [in UAE] as well. We know that because we are champions we can go far. The players are using that as motivation.”
Conditions should be kinder to batters than either side might expect at home. Pitches in Colombo and Dhaka can be sluggish, yet Abu Dhabi traditionally offers truer bounce and a fast outfield. Asalanka, who anchors the middle order, certainly likes what he sees.
“When you’re rating these conditions with other venues in the UAE, I think Abu Dhabi is the best pitch for batters. Once the ball gets softer it’s much easier to bat here, and the outfield is very nice. Every batsman wants to play in Abu Dhabi.”
The two teams know each other almost too well. Since January they have shared eight internationals across all formats: Sri Lanka claimed the ODI and Test series, while Bangladesh edged the T20Is. Seamers had the upper hand in that latter contest, but both camps expect spin to be relevant again this week, especially under lights.
Analyst and former Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes familiarity will breed tight cricket rather than contempt. “There are no secrets left,” he told local radio. “Execution, not surprise, decides these matches.”
Sri Lanka are widely viewed as slight favourites, yet Bangladesh’s recent success in the shortest format offers a reminder that reputation alone does not win games. Asalanka knows it too, though he says the pressure sits firmly on his side’s shoulders – and he welcomes it.
