Sri Lanka's Asia Cup champions receive heroes' welcome in Colombo - in pictures

Dasun Shanaka's team defeated Pakistan in the final to lift T20 title in Dubai on Sunday

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  Members of the Sri Lankan team travel on an open-top bus in Colombo on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, to celebrate their victory in the Asia Cup T20 tournament in UAE. AFP

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  Sri Lankan players during an open-top bus parade after arriving in Colombo. They defeated Pakistan in the final to win the Asia Cup. AFP

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  Sri Lanka's captain Dasun Shanaka arrives at the Katunayake airport following victory in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dubai. AFP

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  Sri Lankan players received a hero's welcome after landing in Colombo. AFP

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  Sri Lankan players during an open-top bus parade in Colombo. AFP

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  Sri Lankan cricket team travel through the streets of Colombo during their Asia Cup victory parade. AFP

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  Kids welcome the victorious Sri Lankan team in Colombo. AFP

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  Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka arrives at the Katunayake international airport. AFP

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  Sri Lankan players during their victory parade in Colombo. AFP

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  Sri Lanka's Twenty20 cricket team that won the Asia cup championship ride on an open bus after their arrival in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo / Eranga Jayawardena)

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  Sri Lanka's Asia Cup winners are greeted by fans in Colombo. AP

Sri Lanka's players received a grand welcome on Monday after they landed in Colombo following their Asia Cup triumph.

Dasun Shanaka's team put in a heroic effort to defeat favourites Pakistan in the final of the T20 tournament in Dubai on Sunday.

The title seemed a long way away when Sri Lanka lost badly to Afghanistan in their opening match. But they continued to play an attacking brand of cricket, which took them all the way to the final.

There, they overcame the apparent disadvantage of bowling second — because of dew in the evening — and a horror start — 58 for five — to post a target of 171 before defending it brilliantly through good bowling and exceptional fielding.

Batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who scored an unbeaten 71 in the final, said it was a "great win" for the country amid a severe economic crisis that has engulfed the nation for the best part of 2022.

"A couple of decades back, we had some sort of aggression in our side. And we wanted to create those moments again. I think, as a unit, we are doing that fantastically well at the moment," he said.

"We want to look forward to the World Cup as well and to keep up this momentum. As a nation, I think it's a great win ... with all the crisis happening back home, these are tough times for Sri Lankans. We are glad and hope that we brought some smiles to their faces."

Captain Shanaka said winning the Asia Cup will help the team's preparation for next month's Twenty20 World Cup, for which the team still has to qualify for.

"We played last year's qualifiers as well ... it's the set-up that has come through from three or four years back," Shanaka told reporters.

"The last two years were really good for us and winning Asia Cup will really help for the World Cup. The World Cup qualifiers will help as well because we will play in those conditions before the main tournament happens so it'll be really good for us."

Asia Cup 2022 team of the tournament

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  1. Mohammed Rizwan (Pakistan) His go-slow in the final might have cost his side, but he was a pillar of reliability until then, and the tournament’s leading run-scorer. AFP

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  2. Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) Scored slightly less runs than his opening partner, Pathum Nissanka, but at a faster rate. Together they infused their side with belief. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  3. Virat Kohli (India) Hit the lone century of the competition, and only Rizwan managed more runs overall. The King is back. AFP

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  4. Suryakumar Yadav (India) Gave the start of the tournament its most thrilling sight, when he laced 68 not out in 23 balls against Hong Kong. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka) Proving that “Rajapaksa” is not always a dirty word. He played the seminal innings of the final, with his counter-punching 71 not out. AP

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  6. Mohammed Nawaz (Pakistan) Played almost the perfect match in Pakistan’s win over India, with a fine spell with the ball, a crucial cameo with the bat, and three brilliant catches. AP

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  7. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) The player of the tournament applied the coup de grace in the final, with three wickets in an over to start the party. AFP

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  8. Shadab Khan (Pakistan) Apologised to fans for his two dropped catches in the final, but few had done more than him to ensure Pakistan reached that point. AP

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  9. Haris Rauf (Pakistan) The tournament was denied one stellar headline act with Shaheen Afridi’s absence, but the sight of a rampaging Rauf and Naseem Shah made up for it. AFP

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  10. Mujeeb ur Rahman (Afghanistan) The most miserly bowler out of anyone who sent down any significant number of overs in the tournament, with an economy rate of 5.5. AFP

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  11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India) The leading wicket-taker in the competition, which he signed off with his remarkable five for four against Afghanistan. AFP