Asia Cup 2025: PAK vs SL pitch report, highest score, Abu Dhabi key stats

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi has hosted 97 T20 matches, where chasing teams have had a slight edge with 52 wins compared to 45 victories for sides batting first

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are facing each other for a pivotal Super 4 battle in the Asia Cup 2025 today, in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan skipper Salman Agha won the toss for the match and invited Asalanka led Sri Lanka to bat first.

PAK vs SL playing 11 for the match:  Pakistan's playing 11 vs Sri Lanka: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed  Sri Lanka's playing 11 vs Pakistan: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara 

 

This contest is now a must-win for both: the loser risks seeing their hopes of reaching the final slip away, while the winner keeps their campaign alive as net run rate starts to play a crucial role. Pakistan will bank on their power-packed pace attack and top-order firepower to gain an edge, while Sri Lanka’s spin arsenal and middle-order depth promise to test the opposition’s resolve. With both teams sharing a storied rivalry and the Asia Cup final in touching distance, cricket fans can expect a high-stakes, fiercely contested clash under the Abu Dhabi lights. 

 

 

How is the Abu Dhabi surface likely to play out during the contest, and what are the important venue statistics to keep in mind? Let’s find out.

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi pitch report for Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match:

The surface at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium has a reputation for challenging batters, with its sluggish nature and low bounce making fluent stroke play a rare sight. As the innings progresses, spinners come increasingly into the game, with the ball gripping and turning to test even the most technically assured players.

 

Run-scoring here is seldom about power hitting; instead, batters need patience, precision, and the ability to rotate strike to build competitive totals. Free-flowing shots often dry up in the middle overs, demanding a more calculated approach.

 

Evening conditions add further complexity. Under lights, the pitch tends to slow down even more, and chasing becomes a daunting task. History suggests that teams batting second at Abu Dhabi frequently struggle to adjust against spin-heavy attacks, especially when scoreboard pressure is in play.

 

Captains winning the toss may prefer to set a target, knowing that runs on the board are often worth far more here than they seem at first glance.

Recent match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

The last T20I match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi was match 14 of Asia Cup 2025 between defending champions India and debutant Oman. In the match, India batting first put a challenging total of 188 for 8 on the board. In reply, Oman produced a decent fightback but eventually could only reach 167 for 4, falling 21 runs short of the target.

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi: Key stats

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi has carved out a unique T20I legacy, hosting 97 matches that have swung between explosive batting displays and dramatic collapses. The ground is often remembered for its extremes — Ireland’s 225/7 against Afghanistan stands as the highest total at the venue, while USA Women’s 54 all out against Thailand Women remains the lowest. Chasing records also reflect the contrasts: South Africa once cruised to 174/2 against Ireland, whereas Thailand Women famously defended just 93/8 versus PNG Women, the smallest total ever successfully defended here.

 

Overall, the numbers show a venue that keeps both bat and ball in play. Sides chasing have won 52 times compared to 45 wins for teams batting first, yet the average second-innings score of 127 lags behind the first-innings average of 140 — proof of how tricky it becomes to pursue targets under pressure.

 

Individual brilliance has further enriched the stadium’s history. Paul Stirling leads T20 batting charts with 406 runs in 13 innings, followed by Salman Anwar’s 352 runs in 8, Karim Janat’s 291 in 13, Mohammad Nabi’s 281 in 13, and Muhammad Waseem’s explosive 268 in just 4. On the bowling front, Basil Khan and Rashid Khan top the wicket-takers list with 19 each, Basil striking in 12 matches at 6.59 economy and Rashid in 14 games at an outstanding 6.03. Rohan Mustafa has chipped in with 15 wickets in 15 innings at 6.43, while both Mark Adair and Mohammad Naveed have picked up 13 wickets each in 7 matches, operating at 6.14 and 6.84 respectively.