Asia’s cricket giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get a last 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.
Pakistan, which grew to become the world’s top-ranked ODI workforce after final week’s 3-Zero collection sweep in opposition to Afghanistan, open the marketing campaign at residence on Wednesday in opposition to Asia Cup debutants Nepal in Multan.
Skipper Babar Azam, who scored 113 runs within the Afghanistan collection, leads a workforce 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 the Inexperienced Shirts 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 nations’ long-standing political tensions, are anticipated to fulfill once more within the Tremendous 4 stage and will face off for a 3rd time within the last.
“It’s not just Pakistan, there are other teams,” Rohit mentioned of the hype surrounding the Pakistan clashes, with the rivals additionally scheduled to fulfill 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.”
Rohit mentioned 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 received the Asia Cup final 12 months 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.
Quick bowler Dushmantha Chameera is all however out of the event with a shoulder damage and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is uncertain for a minimum of the group matches having missed the Lanka Premier League last eight days in the past with a thigh pressure.
Bangladesh have had a troublesome build-up with Tamim Iqbal stepping down as captain and lacking the event with a again damage as he tries to get match for the World Cup.
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been reappointed captain by way 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 current loss to Pakistan, can pose issues with their potent spin assault of Rashid Khan, Mujeebur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.
Additionally they have in-form batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz who smashed 151 in a shedding trigger within the second sport in opposition to Pakistan.
Minnows Nepal may very well be in for a baptism of fireplace having been clubbed with India and Pakistan in Group A. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan make up Group B.
The highest two groups from every group advance to the Tremendous 4 with the main two within the standings contesting the ultimate.
