The wait is over and the Asia cup T20 is starting today. Hong Kong has qualified for the Asia cup so all six teams are now decided to play to be crowned Asian T20 Champions.
India has won the maximum times this title and is also the favourite to win this time either. However, a tough fight is likely to be expected from Pakistan.
India can never forget the defeat against Pakistan last year at the same venue. Pakistan played better cricket in all the departments of the game on that day and outsmarted India and won the match comprehensively.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul must be remembering the day.
Today will be the first match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Both the teams look good on paper.
As far as the latest raking is concerned, the Srilankan team is ranked 8th and Afghanistan team is ranked 10th as per ICC ranking for the T20 format.
So looking at the current form of both the teams there is not much of a difference. However, Sri Lanka has won the Asia cup five times (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014).
On the other hand, Afghanistan managed to reach super 4 only once and that too in 2018.
The top two teams from each group will be going to the super 4 and the top 2 teams from the super 4 will be playing the final for the Asian crown.
Top players from both the teams
Looking at the players of both the teams based on the current ICC ranking for T20 format, there are 3 Sri Lankan players in the top 10 ICC ranking. One player in each department viz Batting, Bowling and All-rounder.
We might be able to see all these 3 players from Sri Lanka in action in today’s match.
- Pathum Nissanka (Batting)
- Maheesh Theekshana (Bowling
- Wanindu Hasaranga (All Rounder)
For Afghanistan, there are two players in the top 10 in the ICC ranking for the T20 format and one of them is at the top. He is non-other than Afghanistan’s captain Mohammad Nabi ranks top on the All-rounder list of ICC ranking.
The world is waiting to watch the magical googlies of Rashid Khan. He will surely be eager to show why he is one of the best leg spinners in the game.
So statistically there is not much of a difference as far as the quality of the players is concerned. In my opinion, both teams stand even.
The team playing better cricket keeping their mind focused and cool will win today’s first match.
The past records say Sri Lanka should easily win, however, with the recent form of the Afghanistan team and the quality of players like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi my heart says that Afghanistan will win.
Whoever wins, the fans will have a great match to watch.
Sri Lanka Squad For Asia Cup 2022
Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal
Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup 2022
Mohammad Nabi (C), Najibullah Zadran (VC), Afsar Zazai (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Mujib ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Rashid Khan and Samiullah Shinwari