Pakistan, technically hosting the Asian Cup, will play Nepal in the first game at home, with most of the tournament taking place in Sri Lanka due to BCCI’s unwillingness to send their team across the border. .
Under normal circumstances, the Asian Cup is little more than a pretext for scheduling so many India-Pakistan matches as possible, but the proximity of the 2023 edition to the World Cup gives teams a chance to see where they stand, analyze their main opponents and tie up loose ends.
The tournament that starts on Wednesday in Multan, to be played in a ‘hybrid model’, involves five teams who are well acquainted with the conditions to be expected during the World Cup, and whoever gets continental bragging rights will go to the mega event in India. with renewed vigour.
Pakistan, technically hosting the Asian Cup, will play Nepal in the first game at home, with most of the tournament taking place in Sri Lanka due to BCCI’s unwillingness to send their team across the border. . Therefore, Pakistan will have to fly to Pallekele on the same Thursday to face India on Saturday. They will be accumulating significant airline miles throughout the tournament.
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Pakistan is currently the highest ranked team in ODI cricket and therefore a lot is expected of them in the coming months.
“I needed to take the team to a different level and change their mindset. Now we have at least 3-4 players in the top 10 (of the ICC ranking) and when you set a standard there will be expectations and you have to meet them. The performances must be such that the team wins,” captain Babar Azam said on the eve of the tournament.
Until rohit sharmaAs far as the team is concerned, there are still some issues to be resolved so close to the World Cup. KL Rahul he has been ruled out for at least the first two matches of the competition with an issue that leaves the wicketkeeper-batsman position on the line if he does not return to full form in time.
The tournament will be an opportunity to test the preparation of Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah against top level competition. The latter, as well as his teammate Prasidh Krishna, made a much-anticipated return in the T20I series in Ireland, but the games in Sri Lanka will provide a more accurate picture of their preparation for the 50+ World Cup.
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Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have their own questions to answer in the run-up to the World Cup. The Lankans will lack several starting players like Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madhushanka, adding to their worries. Although no longer the force they once were, the islanders are defending Asian Cup champions and reached the World Cup final the last time India hosted the main event, so they will have high hopes heading into the mega-event. .
Bangladesh have made significant strides in the 50+ format of late, but will miss the services of the injured Tamim Iqbal and Ebadot Hossain. Shakib Al Hasan’s reinstatement as ODI captain after a six-year gap is an interesting decision.
Afghanistan will be hoping to surprise some big shots again, as is their custom in continental cricket.
First published in: 2023-08-29 22:36 IST
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