2022 Asia Cup: 8 Country You Should Watch Out For
The Asia Cup is an international cricket tournament organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). It is a biennial event and will be played for the tenth time this year. There have been eight previous editions of the tournament. The first one was held in 1988, when it was known as the Asia Cup ODI Cricket Championship. This year’s edition will feature eight teams – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia and New Zealand. Each team will play each other once in a round-robin format. The top four teams from this league phase will qualify for the final on September 28 at the Koggal Vidiyalai School ground in Palapathar, Kerala. Let’s take a look at the 8 country you should watch out for during the upcoming Asia Cup:
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India
After a disappointing show in the 2015 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy, India will be keen to get their Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Asia Cup 2019 campaign off to a flyer. The Men in Blue are the favourites to lift the trophy and will look to produce a strong performance in their backyard. Indeed, the Asia Cup is one of India’s most successful tournaments. The Men in Blue have lifted the trophy on two occasions – 2000 and 2012. On paper, this is the strongest team that India has sent to the Asia Cup in a while. While MS Dhoni might not be able to play due to injury, Virat Kohli and Co. should have enough quality to win the tournament.
Pakistan
Shahid Afridi’s men would be keen to turn the tables on their Indian rivals, who have won the last five Asia Cup titles. Although Pakistan have won the tournament three times – 1996, 2000 and 2014 – they have been inconsistent in the recent past. Indeed, since winning the 2014 Asia Cup, Pakistan have been knocked out of the group stages in the last two editions of the tournament. However, this is a very different outfit from the one that played in 2017. The fact that Pakistan have named a strong-looking squad for this edition of the Asia Cup bodes well for them. With a lot of inexperienced players having now gained some valuable experience, the defending champions could well be set to reclaim the title.
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Afghanistan
Although Afghanistan have been regulars at the Asia Cup over the last few years, they have only managed to progress beyond the group stages in one edition (2014). Indeed, they were knocked out at the group stages of the last edition of the tournament and the 2016 edition. However, with the current team being very strong, Afghanistan could well be set to challenge for the title. Indeed, the Asian side has become a real force in world cricket in recent years. Afghanistan have qualified for both the World Cup and the World T20, and have also staved off the threat of being replaced by the West Indies in the ICC Men’s T20I Rankings. This strong team, which is led by all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, could well be set to challenge for the title in the Asia Cup.
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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have played well at the Asia Cup in recent years, but have not managed to finish in the top four. The Asian side has been knocked out at the group stages in the last two editions of the tournament. Indeed, the Sri Lankans will be keen to challenge for the title in this edition of the tournament. However, with the current team being relatively inexperienced and lacking in depth, it will be a real challenge for Sri Lanka to break the jinx and finish in the top four. With some inconsistent performances in the recent past, the Asian side would need to put in some special performances to even finish in the top four.
Bangladesh
The Bangladeshis would be keen to end their winless run against their Indian and Pakistani rivals. Indeed, the Asian side has lost all five previous editions of the tournament against India and Pakistan, with the last win coming in 2014. However, with a relatively inexperienced squad, the Bangladeshis would need to put in some special performances if they are break their jinx against their two rivals. Indeed, the current Bangladesh team is relatively inexperienced and lacks depth. This, coupled with inconsistent performances in the recent past, will make it difficult for the Asian side to finish in the top four.
Australia
Australia will be keen to put their recent woes behind them and finish in the top four. Indeed, the Australians have not finished in the top four since winning the tournament in 1999. However, the current team is full of quality, and there are reasons to believe that the Aussies can challenge for the title. The Australian team has been bolstered by the return of a number of experienced players – namely, Aaron Finch and David Warner. Indeed, the strong-looking Australian team has the potential to go all the way, but they will be keen to finish in the top four first.
New Zealand
The Kiwis will be keen to end their winless run against their Indian rivals in the Asia Cup. Indeed, the Asian side has lost all five previous editions of the tournament against India, with the last win coming in 1999. However, with a relatively inexperienced squad, the New Zealanders would need to put in some special performances if they are break their jinx against their Indian rivals. Indeed, the current New Zealand team is relatively inexperienced and lacks depth. This, coupled with inconsistent performances in the recent past, will make it difficult for the Asian side to finish in the top four.
Conclusion
The upcoming Asia Cup promises to be an exciting tournament. With a number of talented teams set to lock horns, it will be difficult to predict the winner. The Indian team, which boasts of a strong batting line-up, will be the team to beat in the tournament. The defending champions will be keen to win the tournament for the third time in a row, and Dinesh Karthik’s men will start as favourites. There have been eight previous editions of the tournament. The first one was held in 1988, when it was known as the Asia Cup ODI Cricket Championship.
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