Sri Lanka vs Pakistan TR - (Source: X.com)
Pakistan got off to the perfect start against Sri Lanka as Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan stitched highest-opening stand for their side in T20 World Cup history. At the time of writing, the duo have already amassed 170 runs for the first wicket. Meanwhile, the fans are also questioning Sri Lanka's sportsman spirit following a shambolic show at their home.
Before the start of the match, Pakistan required to put a big total on the board and beat Sri Lanka by 65 runs to qualify further. It seemed a daunting task, but as soon as the match started, several instances in the game forced fans to express their views on social media regarding the intent of the game.
DRS Situation Sparks Match Fix Claims
The first instance when fans flooded on social media and started a 'Match-Fix ' trend was when Dasun Shanaka refused a review despite clear inside edge off Fakhar Zaman's bat in the 11th over of the game.
For the unversed, on the last ball of the 11th over, Theekshana bowled a wide delivery, which Fakhar reached out to but didn't connect. The keeper was confident of an edge, but the captain refused a review. However, in the replay, there was a clear and big spike which left the fans shocked.
Dropped Catches And Poor Fielding Angers Internet
The missed DRS was not the only instance in the game where fans questioned Sri Lanka and their spirit of the game. Following this incident, Sri Lanka also dropped a couple of simple chances.
Notably, Dunith Wellalage missed an easy chance to dismiss Sahibzada Farhan. While, Charith Asalanka also dropped a chance to take a bunny catch, which is quite normal in recent times.
Also Read: When Babar Azam’s Audi e-Tron Gift Sparked Match-Fixing Rumours After T20 World Cup Exit
The internet flooded with anger and even questioned and asked ICC to investigate the match. Several users also claimed that Sri Lanka was deliberately losing the game for revenue and hosting rights. Here are some of the reactions.
Sri Lanka Fight Back After Poor Start
Pakistan were cruising towards a massive total and were 163/0 after 15 overs. The experts were hoping for a 250+ total on the board. However, the Sri Lanka fielders and bowlers made a strong comeback and took 8 wickets in 34 runs.
Eventually, after the first innings, Pakistan were restricted to just 212/8. Dilshan Madhushanka was the star with the ball as he registered the figures of 3/33 after 4 overs. Sahibzada Farhan was the only positive for Pakistan who slammed a century and became the first player in the history of the World Cup to score two tons in a single edition.
For the unversed, Pakistan now need to stop Sri Lanka to less than 147 runs to qualify for semi-finals.
Also Read: Pakistan T20 World Cup Semi-Final Equation Explained After 212/8 Vs Sri Lanka
