Dhaka : Pakistan is determined to defend their trophy, but Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews remains optimistic as the two cricket giants face off in the opening match of the five-nation Asia Cup on Tuesday, in the run-up to the Twenty20 World Cup.
Pakistan, who won the title in 2012, is aiming to put pressure on their opponents with a team balancing experienced players and newcomers. Both teams are focusing not just on the opening match but on the whole tournament.
"We have played a lot against Pakistan and India," Mathews told reporters at a news briefing on Monday. "We know them and they also know us."
"All the teams are even. They will want to win the matches. We also would like to win. Hopefully there will be a really good competition," he added. For Tuesday’s opening match at Fatullah, Sri Lanka has one thing in thier favor — they played here a month ago against Bangladesh, winning two Tests, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s.
"I think we need to show more good performance to go further," Mathews said. Pakistan’s skipper Misbah ul Haq said Sunday they are taking spirit from the series wins over Sri Lanka and South Africa, and will fight to defend the Asia Cup title. The team beat Bangladesh in the 2012 final.
