When Sri Lanka came to Dubai to play the Asia Cup, no one chose them as the eventual winners of the competition, but the team surprised everyone.
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the final for the third time in Asia Cup history. This was the sixth time that Sri Lanka have won the Asia Cup.
Sri Lankan cricket was going through some change till a few months back their team. It was two people that helped them to the trophy.
Coach Chris Silverwood brought life to Lankan cricket. Since joining in May, he has been instrumental in building a strong team.
When Chris was England coach, he used to send a code from the dressing room. He adopted this formula with Sri Lanka, as they became Asia Cup champions.
Silverwood had to resign as the coach of the England cricket team when the England side lost the Ashes series 0-4 against Australia.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa was instrumental in making the Sri Lankan team the champion from inside the field. He rocked the Asia Cup with his batting.
Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who played an unbeaten 71 off 45 balls in the final match against Pakistan, has had many ups and downs in his career.
Rajapaksa, who made his debut for Sri Lanka in 2019, was banned for a year by the Cricket Board from all three formats on charges of indiscipline.
On January 5, Bhanuka retired from international cricket due to personal reasons, but the Sports Minister requested him to return to the team.