In the dress-rehearsal for the final, it was Maharoof's third spell of the innings that left India with more batting concerns than Sri Lanka have had with which bowlers to consider for their defence of their title won in 2008 in Lahore.
Farveez Maharoof's hat-trick not only destroyed India at Rangiri Stadium here yesterday, it also left Sri Lanka's selectors with a tricky choice of whether to play the beanpole Delhi Daredevils all-rounder in tomorrow's Asia Cup final.
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| Sri Lanka pacer Farveez Maharoof. pic/getty images |
In the dress-rehearsal for the final, it was Maharoof's third spell of the innings that left India with more batting concerns than Sri Lanka have had with which bowlers to consider for their defence of their title won in 2008 in Lahore.
All it needed was 18 balls from Maharoof, in which he grabbed four wickets for seven runs a return of 3-1-7-4, to rip through the lower middle-order and tail to expose India and make them look decidedly vulnerable.u00a0 Not the sort of image to make MS Dhoni, the coach Gary Kirsten or selection committee chief, Krish Srikkanth, smile. More likely, it would be a scowl.u00a0
Lanka won by seven wickets.As it is, Maharoof had been scheduled to tour northern Australia with Sri Lanka A squad for a series ofu00a0 limited overs games but fate took a hand days after that squad was announced when the old selection committee was sacked and Aravinda de Silva was installed as convener. It is his decision to recall Maharoof for this four-nations Asia Cup tournament that set up this performance. As De Silva said, Maharoof's Dambulla record has been impressive down the years and the reason he was selected.
