Asia’s Cricket Giants Square Up Ahead Of World Cup

Asia’s cricket giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get a remaining probability to dimension one another up earlier than October’s 50-over World Cup when the Asia Cup begins on Wednesday. Fiery rivals India and Pakistan may conflict as many as thrice in the event that they go all the way in which within the six-nation continental championship. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are co-hosts, a hybrid mannequin agreed after World Cup hosts India refused to tour Pakistan, with the ultimate on September 17 in Colombo.

Babar Azam’s Pakistan, who grew to become the world’s top-ranked ODI workforce after final week’s 3-0 sequence sweep in opposition to Afghanistan, open their marketing campaign at residence on Wednesday in opposition to Asia Cup debutants Nepal in Multan.

Azam, who scored 113 runs within the Afghanistan sequence, leads a aspect containing a triple-pronged quick bowling assault in Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.

World Cup hosts India, led by Rohit Sharma, will open their marketing campaign in opposition to Pakistan in a hotly anticipated conflict on Saturday in Pallekele.

India and Pakistan, who solely play in opposition to one another in worldwide tournaments because of the international locations’ long-standing political tensions, are anticipated to satisfy once more within the Super Four stage and will face off for a 3rd time within the remaining.

“It’s not just Pakistan, there are other teams,” Rohit stated of the hype surrounding the Pakistan clashes, with the rivals additionally scheduled to satisfy within the 50-over World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 14.

“Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup last year. So there are other teams who are playing good cricket and will challenge us.”

– ‘Test ourselves’ –
Rohit stated the Asia Cup was the proper place to “test ourselves, try and put ourselves under pressure and respond to that pressure.”

India’s batting has been boosted by the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer alongside Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Rohit.

The 50-over World Cup begins on October 5 in India.

Sri Lanka, who gained the Asia Cup final yr in Dubai when it was performed as a Twenty20 event, have been hit by accidents forward of their opener in opposition to Bangladesh in Kandy on Thursday .

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera is all however out of the event with a shoulder harm and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is uncertain for at the very least the group matches having missed the Lanka Premier League remaining eight days in the past with a thigh pressure.

Bangladesh have had a tough build-up with Tamim Iqbal stepping down as captain and lacking the event with a again harm as he tries to get match for the World Cup.

Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been reappointed captain by means of to the top of the World Cup. He beforehand led Bangladesh for 50 one-day internationals between 2009 and 2017.

Afghanistan, regardless of their latest loss to Pakistan, can pose issues with their potent spin assault of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.

They even have in-form batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz who smashed 151 in a dropping trigger within the second sport in opposition to Pakistan.

Minnows Nepal could possibly be in for a baptism of fireside having been clubbed with India and Pakistan in Group A. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan make up Group B.

The prime two groups from every group advance to the Super Four with the main two within the standings contesting the ultimate.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)