Islamabad, Pakistan – Hosts Pakistan kick off the Asia Cup, taking over match debutants Nepal on the Multan Cricket Stadium on August 30 as Asia’s greatest cricket nations fine-tune their preparations forward of the 50-over World Cup that begins in October.
The 13-match, six-team match might be co-hosted by Sri Lanka. The highest two sides from the 2 teams will qualify for the second spherical the place they’ll play three matches every.
The highest two finishers will vie for the trophy in Colombo on September 17.
Right here is how the six groups stack up:
Pakistan
Regardless of Pakistan formally being the match’s co-host, the Indian cricket board’s refusal to play within the nation over a scarcity of inexperienced lights by the federal government signifies that solely 4 matches will happen in Pakistan.
Of these 4, the Pakistan crew might be seen in motion in two of them – and neither would be the marquee India-Pakistan conflict.
The final time Pakistan, two-time Asia Cup winners, performed a 50-overs match towards India was on the 2019 World Cup.
Since then, Pakistan have gained 22 of the 31 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) they’ve performed, together with a 3-0 whitewash of Afghanistan earlier this month.
What ought to encourage captain Babar Azam and his gamers is that they enter the Asia Cup because the joint top-ranked ODI facet. Moreover, Azam sits on the prime of the batting chart with teammates Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman becoming a member of him within the prime 10.
However it’s their bowling assault that guarantees to set the heartbeat racing. With Shaheen Shah Afridi, younger tearaway Naseem Shah and the wily Haris Rauf, Pakistan possess arguably the most effective bowling assaults in world cricket.
Nepal
Pakistan’s first opponent in Group A is Nepal, who’re enjoying their first Asia Cup. Wednesday’s match opener can even be the primary time Nepal tackle Pakistan in any format.
Nepal have performed 51 ODIs because the 2019 World Cup, quickly ascending the ranks and now sitting 15 within the international rankings regardless of having gained ODI standing solely in 2018.
India
Whereas political rivalry, and its repercussions, take extra consideration within the lead-up, the Indian cricket crew might be eager to make sure they put all that behind earlier than the primary of what could possibly be three India-Pakistan matches on the Asia Cup on September 2.
It has been over a decade since India gained a world cricket match, however they’re essentially the most profitable facet within the Asia Cup’s historical past with seven trophies, the final of these coming in 2018.
Rohit Sharma’s facet will hope to proceed warming up properly for the World Cup that might be performed in entrance of a house crowd.
Along with present captain Sharma and champion batter Virat Kohli, lots of focus might be on quick bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who’s on a comeback path following a number of harm setbacks.
He captained a second-string Indian facet throughout a brief journey to Eire, the place he bowled along with his trademark tempo and swing.
Afghanistan
The plucky Afghans have a crew that may arguably beat any opponent on any given day. Nevertheless, the psychological capability and recreation consciousness to seal these wins are sometimes discovered wanting.
Positioned alongside Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the Afghan facet might want to guarantee they win each matches and hope to take that momentum into the second spherical.
In Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, they’ve skilled, high quality gamers who’ve gained ample expertise in varied T20 leagues internationally.
However the Afghan fortunes will revolve round their crown jewel and maybe the best Afghan participant of all time, Rashid Khan.
The leg-spinning all-rounder stays the fulcrum for the Afghan crew, and his infectious nature and buzzing character might be key, alongside along with his whizzing deliveries, to propel Afghans to the subsequent spherical.
Sri Lanka
Co-hosts Sri Lanka have a battle on their fingers. The six-time Asia Cup champions and the 1996 World Cup winners nearly managed to qualify for the 50-over World Cup.
They go into the match ranked eighth. Leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga stays their solely participant of word who’s ranked within the prime 10 checklist of greatest all-rounders.
However he’s unlikely to take part within the match as a consequence of harm, and it’s anticipated that the Sri Lankan administration won’t danger him earlier than the World Cup.
The defending Asia Cup winners will open their match on Thursday towards Bangladesh.
Bangladesh
For a crew that has been collaborating within the Asia Cup since its second version in 1986, Bangladesh have been shedding finalists 3 times.
In Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh has their captain, talisman, and nation’s biggest cricketer, ranked because the primary all-rounder within the ODIs.
He’s ably supported by 25-year-old right-hander Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who can be within the prime 10 rating checklist of all-rounders.
However questions stay about who else goes to face up and be counted as soon as they open their match towards joint host Sri Lanka on August 31.