Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lankan team and management stunned with Pathum Nissanka's controversial dismissal

The Asia Cup 2022 kicked off on a high note as the first match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka witnessed a thrilling start. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to chase in the game, putting the Lankans to bat. Fazalhaq Farooqi gave Afghanistan the dream start by dismissing Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka in the very first over. But what got everyone talking was opener Pathum Nissanka’s dismissal off Naveen-ul-Haq’s delivery in the second over.

Naveen delivered a full-length delivery, outside off, and though Nissanka swung his bat, the ball landed into Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s gloves as the umpire raised his hand to signal the dismissal. Nissanka was stunned and he took a referral. The UltraEdge, shockingly showed a flat line as the ball passed the bat, but the third umpire had some other opinion.

There was a murmur, and no spike, which in usual cases is considered not out, but Nissanka’s luck did not favor him as the decision went against him and his team. The Sri Lankan players in the dugout, their team management, and Danushka Gunathilaka, the batter on the non-striker’s end were all in disbelief.

A top-order collapse for Sri Lanka in the powerplay

Speaking of the first two dismissals, Farooqi got working with the ball in the very first over when he scalped two wickets back-to-back. The first wicket of Mendis was initially not given out by the on-field umpire. But he had to change his decision as UltraEdge confirmed that there was no bat involved and the ball tracking confirmed three reds.

On the very next delivery, pitched similarly, Asalanka had to walk back to the pavilion. The batter doubted the height of the ball could have changed the umpire’s decision, but before he could arrive at a decision after discussing it with his partner, the timer had run out. As a result, Sri Lanka faced a major blow to begin their campaign.

The Sri Lankan top-order came crashing down within just two overs and Afghanistan got an upper hand over Sri Lanka. The middle-order batters, slowly and steadily, handled the pressure, maintained calm and composure, and took the game forward thereon, to finish the powerplay by scoring 41 runs at the loss of three wickets.