Match Preview - Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2022, Super 4

Big picture

Sri Lanka can breathe easy. Or can they?

Having been blown away by Afghanistan and then having to use every ounce of firepower to get past Bangladesh, they will once again face a trial by spin. Against the Rashids and the Mujeebs. However, the current Afghanistan team is beginning to establish a new bowling order. Their fast bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen ul Haq have been the perfect prelude to the spin superstars. So as a batting unit, there's unlikely to be any respite.

Does the current line-up have the confidence to take on bowling straightaway? In their virtual knockout, Sri Lanka had to go for broke, for a flight was waiting to take them home otherwise. Can they replicate a similar mindset with the stakes significantly higher?

Chris Silverwood's focus is on bringing back Sri Lanka to their refreshing approach to white-ball cricket that revolutionised the ODI game in the 1990s, the kinds that gave opponents nightmares when Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana destroyed attacks with disdain.

However, that is easier said than done. The proof lies in the pudding. Saturday will be another opportunity to test that.

Afghanistan have proved they're giant killers no more. UAE conditions are as good as home conditions. Most players are residents here, and train and play all year round on pitches such as these, and in weather far more oppressive. What they will want to guard against is complacency.

So far, they haven't been tested while batting first. How they approach it - should this scenario play out on Saturday - will be interesting to watch.

Afghanistan have the edge but having just about stopped the door from shutting them out of their own party, they will now want to barge it open.

Form guide

Pakistan: WLWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Hong Kong: WWLWW

In the spotlight

On T20I debut, Asitha Fernando won Sri Lanka game that even his teammates thought had slipped away. His 10 out out of three balls helped clinch a thriller to put Sri Lanka in the Super 4s. Against Bangladesh, Asitha seemed a tad nervous and sprayed the ball around even as the Bangladesh top order took him on. He finished with 1 for 51 off his four overs. Now, he'd be looking to impress with the new ball, which is his primary skillset.

Can Fazalhaq Farooqi repeat his Group B performance?•AFP via Getty Images

Afghanistan are slowly beginning to establish an identity beyond their globetrotting T20 superstars. Among those who putting themselves high on the radar of franchises around the T20 circuit is Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The hard-hitting 20-year-old was given out on zero in the Asia Cup opener but overturned the lbw call on review and went on to take Sri Lanka's attack to the cleaners by making an 18-ball 40 in a low-key chase. Can he rise to the occasion? Now the stakes are high, and a Super 4 game win first up could set them on the road to the final.

Pitch and conditions

The surface in Sharjah will be the same as the Pakistan v Hong Kong game. There is likely to be some rough patches and dry spots that could aid the spinners. That said, the ground dimensions are significantly smaller than Dubai, and both sides have batters than can take surfaces out of the equation. So far, there hasn't been any dew across both venues. Toss should not be a deciding factor.

Team news

Both sides have a fully fit squad of players to choose from. They are unlikely to make changes.

Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Danushka Gunathilaka, 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Dilshan Madushanka.

Afghanistan: 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Ibrahim Zadran, 4 Najibullah Zadran, 5 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 6 Karim Janat, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Azmatullah Omarzai, 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Stats and trivia

Hazratullah Zazai and Gurbaz are the second-most prolific pair for Afghanistan in T20Is. They have eight fifty-run stands in just 21 innings together, including a 37-ball 83 against Sri Lanka last week.

In 13 T20Is this year, Sri Lanka have conceded runs at 8.21 during the powerplay at an average of 42.73. While this average is the worst among all Full Members, their economy is third worst, behind England and West Indies.

Mujeeb ur Rahman has a prolific record in Sharjah: 10 wickets in four T20Is.

Quotes

"Chris Silverwood is trying to bring back the positive, aggressive brand of cricket we used to play a couple of decades back. He has given us the freedom to think as adults and not be pampered." - Bhanuka Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka wanting to channel their 1990s brand of cricket

"The way the boys have performed, the way they have adjusted and taken the responsibility upon themselves has been great to see. In the Super 4s too, our focus is on playing the same brand of aggressive cricket, but also learn from the mistakes we made and not repeat it." - Rashid Khan on Afghanistan's simple mantra going forward

Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Eng vs Pak, T20Is - Jason Roy set to miss out for Pakistan T20I tour, T20 World Cup

Jason Roy is expected to be the high-profile omission from England's T20I squad for next month's tour of Pakistan, and thereafter the T20 World Cup in Australia in October, after failing to emerge from a season-long form slump.

Roy, 32, was an integral influence within the white-ball dressing-room under Eoin Morgan's leadership, and a mainstay of the side from the moment of his debut in the wake of the 2015 World Cup. His uncompromising aggression at the top of the order has yielded nearly 5,500 white-ball runs in 171 appearances, including 1,522 at 24.15 and a strike rate of 137.61 in T20Is, and has been crucial in dictating the team's proactive approach - one that ultimately delivered glory at the 2019 50-over World Cup.

However, Roy has struggled for form this summer, with just 78 runs at 12.66 in six T20Is, and at a subdued strike rate of 77.55. A century in the third ODI against Netherlands in Amstelveen in June boosted his ODI numbers, but he failed to reach fifty in five further appearances against India and South Africa.

England's T20I squads are due to be announced on Friday. Jos Buttler - Morgan's successor - is still recuperating from the calf injury he sustained during Manchester Originals' Hundred captain, and will only come into contention for the second half of the tour, with Moeen Ali likely to deputise at the start of the series. Roy, however, is understood to have informed his Oval Invincibles team-mates that he has missed out on selection.

Given the huge regard with which Roy is held in England's white-ball set-up, he could have rescued his place in the team with a strong showing for Invincibles in this year's Hundred. However, he began his campaign disastrously with three ducks in four innings, while his haul of 51 runs at 8.50 culminated in a tortuous 21 from 19 balls against Birmingham Phoenix.

He missed Invincibles' last two matches of the competition after suffering stiffness in his lower back, including Wednesday night's decisive loss to Originals at Old Trafford, and finds his place in the England squad for the Pakistan tour taken by his domestic opening partner, Will Jacks, whose impressive run of form included a century against Southern Brave. Another of Roy's Invincibles team-mates, Jordan Cox - a star of Kent's T20 Blast victory last summer - is also understood to be under consideration as a potential bolter for that trip.

Will Smeed, who scored the Hundred's first century - also against Brave - is another name in the frame but it is Phil Salt who seems most likely to get first crack at replacing him, initially in Pakistan and then in Australia.

Among the current incumbents, Dawid Malan's stellar returns at the top of the order for Trent Rockets - a tournament-high 358 runs at 59.66 and a strike-rate of 172.11 - are likely to earn him a promotion to open at some stage of the Pakistan tour after his prolonged run at No. 3 in England's T20I side.

Alex Hales, Malan's opening partner at Rockets, and a player who has been blackballed by England ever since he failed two recreational drugs tests on the eve of the 2019 World Cup, has also been mentioned for a recall. After several years of impressive displays on the global T20 circuit, Hales this summer became the first English player to pass 10,000 runs in the format.

However, even with Morgan - his most ardent critic - now retired, a rapprochement under the new regime of Buttler and Matthew Mott seems an outside bet. It is understood no discussions have taken place between Hales and the England set-up, and there is little appetite for Hales to be recalled among senior players in the group.

Another likely absentee from the Pakistan squad will be England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, who retired from ODI cricket this summer in a bid to focus on the other two international formats. His immediate priority, however, is the forthcoming Test series decider against South Africa at the Kia Oval next week, which concludes just days before the team is due to depart for their seven-match tour of Pakistan.

On the bowling front, the uncapped left-arm quick Luke Wood is likely to make his England debut in Pakistan, having been an unused squad member in the Netherlands earlier this year. He has bowled with pace and penetration throughout Rockets' run to the Hundred final, with nine wickets at 24.33, and is likely to be among an abundance of seam options in an enlarged, 19-man squad.

Mark Wood, who has missed the whole English summer through injury, is also in line for his comeback and will train with the Test squad at the Kia Oval this week as part of his preparation. A 19-man squad to tour Pakistan will be named on Friday morning, along with a 15-man squad (plus three reserves) for the T20 World Cup and the three Australia T20Is which precede it. Among those reserves will be Tymal Mills, who featured in the last T20 World Cup in the UAE but has been out of action since undergoing toe surgery earlier this month.

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Asia Cup 2022 - Ban vs SL - Shakib Al Hasan

Among Bangladesh's several errors, Shakib Al Hasan rued Mahedi Hasan's no-balls the most in their two-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka that knocked them out of the Asia Cup.

Mahedi's first no-ball allowed Kusal Mendis, who was reprieved on four occasions, to bat beyond the seventh over. Kusal who opened the innings, top scored with a 37-ball 60 to lay the foundation for Sri Lanka's 184 chase.

His second no-ball came in the last over when Sri Lanka needed three runs off four deliveries. In a comical turn of events, as soon as Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana ran two, they heard the buzzer that pointed to Mahedi's no-ball. Soon enough, the giant screens flashed the replay and Bangladesh knew their fate had been sealed. This moment was particularly disappointing for Shakib as he reflected on the team's performance under pressure, and their early exit from the competition.

"No captain wants no-balls from their team," Shakib said. "It is a big crime when a spinner bowls a no-ball. We bowled a lot of wides and no-balls today. We were not disciplined. We didn't know what to do when we were under pressure. We knew Kusal (Mendis) plays spin really well, so if we could get him early, it would have set platform for our spinners to come into the game.

"But till he was there, it was hard for our spinners to bowl. He was dropped on two, and then when he was out, it was a no-ball. The spinner bowling a no-ball is a big no-no. Our spinners usually don't bowl no-balls, but today it was proved that we break down under pressure. We are losing in crunch moments. If we won 50 per cent of the close matches, we would have a better record in this format."

What also hurt Bangladesh was Ebadot Hossain's inconsistency in his final two overs which went for 38. The penultimate over, especially, turned the tide Sri Lanka's way as he conceded 17, including a no-ball and a wide. This undid all his good work until then. At the end of his first two overs, he had unreal figures of 3 for 13.

Ebadot Hossain had mixed returns on T20I debut•Getty Images

"Ebadot has never played a pressure game like this, regardless of his experience," Shakib said. "He has a lot to understand. He brought us into the game after his first two overs. We thought it was going to be his day. You expect a bowler to have good rhythm and be positive when he has taken three wickets in his first two overs. It wasn't to be. He can learn a lot from this game.

"Our plan was to get their batsmen out. That's exactly what we did. They needed 25 or 26 in the last two overs. Eight wickets down, you back your main bowlers to defend those runs against their tail."

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Shakib underlined the importance of having to identify the best fast bowlers soon. "This was an eye-opener to see how we bowl in pressure situations," he said. "You can expect good 10-12 overs of fast bowling in this type of pitch. Only those who can deliver will be in the team.

"It is simple math. We looked at four fast bowlers here, and we will look at more in the tri-series in New Zealand so that we have a clearer idea who can do well in Australia."

Shakib then focused on the few positives from the tournament. Like how the move to bump up Mehidy Hasan Miraz to open the innings in his first T20I in nearly four years, worked.

Mehidy responded with an aggressive 26-ball 38, hitting two fours and as many sixes. Shakib said this was something they had contemplated against Afghanistan too, before going in with regulars Mohammad Naim and Anamul Haque.

"He has done well in our domestic tournaments, so we had faith in him," Shakib said of Mehidy's promotion. "Even in the first game, he was in the mix to bat in the top-order. He didn't play the first game. He showed his character today. He wasn't nervous. He was playing after three years so it wasn't easy for him. You have to give him a lot of credit, the way he handled the pressure in the first six overs."

Shakib also asked for a bit of patience from everyone as they try to work out plans going into the T20 World Cup. For starters, he was encouraged by the team's attitude and body language.

"I have returned to T20I captaincy with these two matches. We have a lot in mind when we make a new beginning. Our planning started with the game against Afghanistan, so there will be right and wrong.

"We have a plan in place. We want to reach a goal slowly. But if you notice our attitude and body language in these two games, despite the poor approach in batting in the first game, I think we have improved from our last three or four series."

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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ICC Rankings - 2022 Asia Cup

Hardik Pandya's all-round performance in India's opening game of the 2022 Asia Cup has helped him jump eight places on the T20I allrounder's rankings to a career-best fifth position.

Hardik was instrumental in India's five-wicket victory against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. Hitting the hard lengths consistently, Hardik picked up 3 for 25 in his four overs to help India dismiss Pakistan for 147 in 19.5 overs. He then shepherded a tricky chase, smashing an unbeaten 33 off 17 balls to take India over the line with two balls to spare.

Hardik has had a successful year with both bat and ball. He led Gujarat Titans to the title in their maiden season in the IPL, and he's taken his all-round form into international cricket as well.

Since the end of IPL 2022, Hardik has played 14 T20Is, scoring 314 runs at an average of 34.88 and taking 11 wickets with best figures of 4 for 33 against England. He also captained India in three T20Is - two against Ireland and one against West Indies - and won all three matches.

"In bowling, my plans were pretty simple," Hardik told Star Sports after the India-Pakistan clash. "I always tell the same thing. It's just how I use it. I tell that it's important to kind of assess the situation and conditions, and use your weapon which I feel, you know, hard lengths and hitting the length is my strength. But I make sure I use it very wisely, put some doubt in the batter and ask them to play the wrong shot."

About his batting form, Hardik said, "In batting, over the years, I have understood [that] the calmer I can stay, it's going to help me execute all the plans. Those executions, the 50-50 chances that I take, if I am calmer, it helps me to pull it off. Chases like this, you always plan overs."

There were gains for Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the T20I rankings for bowlers after Afghanistan became the first team to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup. Rashid's 3 for 22 against Bangladesh helped him jump two spots over fellow wristspinners Adil Rashid and Adam Zampa on the list of T20I bowlers. He is now No. 3 with only Tabraiz Shamsi and Josh Hazlewood ahead of him.

Mujeeb is ranked ninth - having moved up seven places - after taking five wickets in the first two games at the Asia Cup.

In the Test rankings, Ben Stokes' efforts in England's win over South Africa in Manchester, saw him move up in all three rankings list. He is now 18th in the Test rankings for batters, 38th among bowlers, and second among allrounders.

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Match Preview - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2022, 5th Match, Group B

Big picture

It is a knockout match, so perhaps we should ask the tough question. Is this a real rivalry? Pull on your criss-cross deerstalker hats, Sherlocks. Get your magnifying glass. Clasp your notebooks tight. We about to investigate.

To understand what happened between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the 2018 Nidahas trophy, we must roll the clock back to the previous Bangladesh Premier League, where Nazmul Islam, an unassuming slow left-arm bowler, sought to sex up his workaday act by adding a fun celebration. This is the birth of the now-infamous "Nagin dance". In Nazmul's hands, it was joyful. Innocent even. Little did he know how this was all about to blow up.

When he claimed wickets against Sri Lanka in a limited-overs series early in that year, he busted out his celebration again. Hands cocked above his head, like a cobra, a little body-thrusting action. Why wouldn't he? But then, drama. Danushka Gunathilaka did an imitation of the dance when he got a wicket in that series.

Gunathilaka might say it was all just a little bit of fun, sir, and he didn't mean anything by it. But then you can also see from the Bangladesh perspective, how it might have seemed a mockery.

So when Mushfiqur Rahim hit the winning runs in a big chase against Sri Lanka in Colombo, he did the mock-Nagin dance at Gunathilaka, who was walking past him. Other Sri Lankan players then started doing it to mock Mushfiqur, I guess? Then the whole Bangladesh team started doing it, almost in solidarity with Nazmul and Mushfiqur.

Towards the business end of the series, there was a tense game between the two sides, and after some truly wild gesticulating and on-field arguments, the Bangladesh dressing room door at the Khettarama stadium was left shattered, when they won.

If this sounds like grown men acting childish, like a little celebration being blown way out of proportion, like fans getting riled up over meaningless theatrics, or if you've got dumber reading this preview until now, all of the above are valid feelings

But we are chroniclers here at ESPNcricinfo. It is our job to present facts. Even when the facts are stupid.

But we're in sports media, so I guess we should try hype this up. It could be close? If nothing else, these teams are evenly matched. Between Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin, Bangladesh certainly have a more experienced seam attack. Sri Lanka perhaps have the better spinners in Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. On the batting front, Bangladesh have the experience of Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, and Mushfiqur. But the likes of Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis have prospered against Bangladesh in the past. There's not a lot to separate the teams

Either way, whoever wins this game advances to the Super 4 round. Whoever loses returns home much earlier than their fans would have hoped.

Celebrations in the Bangladesh dressing room in Colombo went a bit too far in 2018•Andrew Fernando/ESPNcricinfo

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka LWLLL Bangladesh LLWLL

In the spotlight

Kusal Mendis has been in excellent Test-match form recently, before extending that to the shortest format, when he dominated Sri Lanka's premier T20 domestic tournament this year, shortly before setting off to the Asia Cup. He seems to have been sent up the order to open the batting in this series. Although his T20I stats are otherwise modest, this is a position he enjoys, striking at 137 when he opens, averaging 32 (career numbers are 121 and 20). He is auditioning to play this role in the T20 World Cup in October.

Amid Bangladesh's struggle in T20s over the last 12 months, Mahedi Hasan has been one of the rare consistent performers. He has the best economy rate in world cricket among bowlers who have played at least 25 innings, proving once again that orthodox offspin can still work. He brings out the side-arm deliveries from time to time, but is generally quite tight with his orthodoxy. Mahedi is also a decent hitter, and could even be used as an opener.

Pitch and conditions

It seems likely that the match will be played on a used surface, which means it might be a little more spin-friendly than tracks we have seen at this tournament. Temperatures will be scorching - likely in the low 30-degree celsius range, even in the evening.

Team news

Sri Lanka might just go in with the same XI, despite the big loss against Afghanistan. They may consider bringing the in-form Ashen Bandara into the middle order, however, perhaps in place of Danushka Gunathilaka. Or they might move Gunathilaka back up to the top of the order, and leave Pathum Nissanka out.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis (wk), 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 5 Danushka Gunathilaka, 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Bangladesh have a batting quandary which could see them change the opening pair again. Mushfiqur Rahim was talked about as one of those options although he would have to agree to this unusual role. Bangladesh also could revisit their bowling attack.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mohammad Naim, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 4 Afif Hossain, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur Rahman/Nasum Ahmed

Stats and trivia

• Sri Lanka have won eight of the 12 completed matches between these teams, but lost two of the last three.

Kusal Mendis has scores of 53, 10, 57, and 11 against Bangladesh, striking at 169 across those four innings. He has opened the batting on all those occasions, twice in Bangladesh, and twice in Colombo.

In five innings in the UAE so far, Mahedi Hasan hasn't been particularly penetrative, taking just three wickets. But he has been economical, even if not quite up to his standards elsewhere, conceding 7.45 an over.

Quotes

"Our opening pair isn't clicking at all. We are missing Litton Das who is injured. I am hopeful the openers can bat to a plan. You can get out trying to hit the first ball, but it hurts us when nobody shows the intent. I want to see the intent. I want to see the change in mindset."
Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud, when asked about the possible batting improvements against Sri Lanka.

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf

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Asia Cup 2022 - India vs Hong Kong

Ravindra Jadeja was at his jovial best at Tuesday's optional training session, ahead of India's final group game against Hong Kong in Dubai. And when he rather unexpectedly came for the pre-match press conference, he was greeted with a huge cheer from the room.

"Bakra mil gaya kya?," (Have you guys found your sacrificial lamb) Jadeja laughed as he settled into his chair. And over the next 10 minutes, his answers alternated between dry humour and insight into India's strategies at the Asia Cup.

"Aapka sawaal mere book se baahar hai," (your question is out of syllabus) he joked when asked whether Rishabh Pant would continue to be benched.

"Aap zyada sochte ho, main itna nahi sochta," (you seem to think a lot, I don't think so much) he quipped when asked about his role of primarily being a bowler in Test cricket vis-a-vis his role in the white-ball teams.

Chuckles turned into full-blown laughter when Jadeja responded to a question on how he dealt with rumours about his sudden injury during the IPL and the possibility of him not being selected for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

"Once I heard news that I was dead, it can't bigger than that," he responded. "I don't think too much about it. I just focus on my work, try to play well and perform."

Jadeja's answers were quick. He can go through half a dozen questions in the time he takes to bowl an over.

With Pakistan playing a legspinner in Shadab Khan and a left-arm spinner in Mohammad Nawaz, Jadeja was sent up the order to negate the threat of a right-hand batter having to face a ball turning away from him. Jadeja responded with a 29-ball 35 and his partnership with Hardik Pandya helped India win the game with three balls to spare. He revealed that he's been preparing to bat anywhere in the order, and that the decision to move up was something he had expected.

"If you play for India, there will be pressure always. You need to play with responsibility sometimes. When you get a chance to bat when the team is in trouble and then you have to win it from there, it's challenging."

Ravindra Jadeja

"Definitely, sometimes it happens if a left-arm spinner or legspinner is bowling, it's easier to have a left-hander," Jadeja said. "In the top-seven I was the only left-hander. I knew there would be such situations, where they have a left-arm spinner and legspinner so I may have to bat up.

"I was preparing myself mentally for it. Luckily, I got the runs, and whatever I did, it was crucial. I can't say [the same will happen against all teams]. Every opponent has different bowlers, we'll plan from that point of view."

Jadeja rued not finishing the game off but expressed satisfaction at having delivered a key performance in a pressure situation. "If you play for India, there will be pressure always," he said. "You need to play with responsibility sometimes. When you get a chance to bat when the team is in trouble and then you have to win it from there, it's challenging.

"You can sometimes come to bowl in similar situations. If you perform well in such situations, it gives you satisfaction and confidence as a player."

And how would Jadeja bowl to a batter like Jadeja? "If there's someone like that in T20s, I'll look at the areas the batter plays in, what his strong zones are, which end I'm bowling from, and which part of the outfield is bigger."

In 2018, the Asia Cup was Jadeja's launchpad for a comeback after he fell out of favour for close to a year. Four years on, Jadeja and Hardik Pandya are key pieces of India's T20I puzzle as they look to win a tournament - the T20 World Cup - they haven't won since 2007.

Jadeja isn't focused on Australia just yet. He's looking to do his best against Hong Kong, and then take the Super 4s as it comes.

"One game at a time, one game at a time," he laughed, before coolly walking off, sipping ice-cold water.

Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Match Preview - India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2022, Group A

Big picture

Every time there is an Asia Cup around, its relevance is brought into question. Is it not enough that it brings together India and Pakistan for an actual game of cricket outside the World Cup and Champions Trophy? This edition has the potential of as many as three matches between them. It is not the case but even if the rest of the tournament is a facade to just find a way to have these teams play, it is worth it.

Since their last bilateral engagement in the first week of 2013, the two sides have faced each other only 12 times, four of them in the Asia Cup. Among Full Members, they have played only Afghanistan and Ireland less frequently in this period.

To have them play frequently is important because the more India and Pakistan play each other, the less jingoistic the fans' reaction becomes, the less the chances of a repeat of what Mohammed Shami had to face the last time these two teams played.

Among the players themselves, distance has made their hearts grow fonder. Just look at the concern India's players have for the fitness of Shaheen Shah Afridi, their wrecker the last time they played, in the video that has gone viral.

Since that match, India have shed a lot of their inhibition with the bat. Pakistan have shed some ageing batters, but they are still anchor-heavy, which works only in great bowling units. And their bowling is not the same as the last time around. Apart from Afridi not being there, Imad Wasim is missing, and Hasan Ali is back at the last minute only because Mohammad Wasim got injured. That points to the ordinary form of Hasan.

India, too, will be missing Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, but they still look more settled coming into the Asia Cup. They are tactically much more switched on than they were earlier. However, come match day in T20 cricket, these things can all be blown out of the park. Especially when you play each other as infrequently as these teams do.

Form guide

India WWWLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Pakistan LWWWW

In the spotlight

Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. We don't yet know if they are peas from the same pod but the spotlight is sure to follow them wherever they go. Kohli has bought into the team philosophy of taking more risks even though he has himself not been getting the runs. Forget the external noise, it can be silenced, but is the trust the team is putting in him despite an extended dry run now becoming a bit of pressure?

Since their last bilateral series in 2013, Pakistan and India have faced each other only 12 times•AFP/Getty Images

Babar continues to be the run machine but does he trust the batters after him sufficiently to play a more enterprising game? It will be in sharp focus now that their bowling attack doesn't look as strong as it did last year. Especially if Pakistan are sent in to bat first at a chase-friendly venue.

Team news

It is incredible that India could be going into the match with the same top seven as last year but still hold a completely different outlook and threat. It is not likely that they take a player of Kohli's stature into the squad and then make him sit. That leaves Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik for one slot. Pant is a more all-round batter and is the only left-hand batter in the top six; Karthik is a specialist finisher. Tough choice.

India (probable): 1 KL Rahul 2 Rohit Sharma (capt) 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 R Ashwin/Avesh Khan, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Arshdeep Singh

Pakistan's top seven is more or less settled, leaving some debate over the bowlers. With Shadab Khan being the vice-captain, it is unlikely they will be going for two wristspinners, so Mohammad Nawaz is likely to pip Usman Qadir. With Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah providing high pace, they could pick the control of Shahnawaz Dahani over Mohammad Hasnain.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Asif Ali, 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Khushdil Shah, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Nawaz/Usman Qadir, 9 Shahnawaz Dahani/Mohammad Hasnain, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Naseem Shah

Pitch and conditions

The World Cup last year and all the IPLs in the UAE, where matches began at 6pm, are a clear indicator that Dubai tilts the scales heavily in favour of the chasing side. There is some tackiness early on, and there is dew to contend with for only one side, as opposed to both teams in case of late starts.

Other than that, keep an eye out for the oppressive heat. Even during the night, the temperatures are expected to hover around 35°C.

Stats and trivia

• India lead Pakistan 8-5 on head-to-head in the Asia Cup, both formats put together. They are on a three-match winning streak.
• This will be Kohli's 100th T20I, making him only the second player after Ross Taylor to play 100 international games in all three formats.

Quotes

"When there is an opportunity to try different combinations, we will try. Along the way, if we make mistakes or face difficulties, we're okay with that. We have spoken about it as a group, and there is nothing to fear."
Rohit Sharma says India will keep experimenting in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup

"Honestly, that [last World Cup] game is a thing of the past now. It won't have an impact on Sunday's match. I am completely focused on tomorrow's game. The teams are kind of different, the conditions are different. Although as a side we are confident, we won't talk big ahead of the game. We wish to prove it on the field." Babar Azam doesn't want to be drawn into the hype of the last year's World Cup win

Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Match Preview - Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2022, Group B

Big picture

It's a very 2022 thing to say, but it's possible that Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are pretty evenly matched sides.

Hear me out.

Of the two sides, Afghanistan tend to play weaker teams, of course, but since 2020, they have won a T20I series against Ireland, won two against Zimbabwe, and drawn one against Bangladesh.

By comparison, Sri Lanka have won just one T20I series since 2020. This was against India. That sounds impressive. Until you remember this was the series in which an already depleted India team (their Test side was on tour on some other continent, playing England) trounced Sri Lanka in the first match, before no fewer than seven of their players contracted Covid-19, and they barely managed to put an XI on the field, packing the side out with bowlers, including net bowlers.

Sri Lanka may be a resurgent team on the whole. They have got something cooking on the Test front. Their ODI form hasn't been terrible lately. But in T20Is? There are some stars in the team now, but certainly no consistent results. They have won just two of the last 11 T20Is they have played.

The batting is where Sri Lanka will feel they have more quality than the opposition. Kusal Mendis is in excellent form, across formats. Charith Asalanka was terrific in the UAE during last year's World Cup. Najibullah Zadran and Hazratullah Zazai have been good for Afghanistan this year, but can they do it against high-quality spin?

This is another opportunity for Afghanistan to show they deserve to play tougher opposition more often. And Sri Lanka to show that while they struggle against the top teams, they can still beat the sides they have historically dominated.

Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, still a spin duo to reckon with•AFP/Getty Images

Form guide

Sri Lanka WLLLL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Afghanistan LWWLL

In the spotlight

Dasun Shanaka's last T20I innings was essentially a miracle. At one stage in the third T20I against Australia in Pallekele, Sri Lanka needed 59 runs from 18 balls, with only four wickets in hand. Shanaka took the side home in a hail of sixes, making 54 not out off 25 balls. Although his ODI form has been modest, Shanaka's T20I form has been excellent this year - he's hit 302 runs at a strike rate of 145, across 11 innings. Sri Lanka have been found wanting for death-overs fireworks for years now. They need Shanaka to carry his 2022 form through.

Afghanistan's captain, Mohammad Nabi, has not had so much T20I fun with the bat recently. In the recent series against Ireland, he was out five times and made a top score of 9. But then that's just one series (he'd had good batting outings against Zimbabwe earlier in the year). And his bowling continues to be effective, particularly on the kinds of pitches the UAE is likely to throw up, and with which he is familiar.

Pitch and conditions

Conditions have been hot and dry in Dubai, with the playing surface covered for large parts of the day. With training entirely held at the ICC Academy nearby, curators have had enough time to water the surface and ensure moisture content is maintained. On each of the last four evenings, there hasn't been much dew at night. This is something teams will gladly welcome because it will minimise the toss advantage. It will also make for an even contest between bat and ball.

Team news

Shanaka was guarded about the make-up of his XI ahead of the match, but suggested there would be a left-arm seamer in operation, which means Dilshan Madushanka may be in line for a debut. He's likely to have sling-arm seamer Matheesha Pathirana for company. Sri Lanka have decisions to make on the batting front, though. Ashen Bandara has been in good domestic form. But Dhananjaya de Silva has more all-round appeal. And then there's Pathum Nissanka. If they are to accommodate Nissanka in the XI, Mendis may move down the order.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis (wk), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 5 Dhananjaya de Silva/Ashen Bandara, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Dushmantha Chameera will be missed, his presence could have made Sri Lanka the favourites•BCCI

If the pitch is turning, Afghanistan may stack their side with spinners. Between Rashid, Mujeeb, left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad, and Nabi's darts, they could have a lot of slow-bowling options.

Afghanistan (possible): 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Ibrahim Zadran, 4 Najibullah Zadran, 5 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 6 Samiullah Shinwari, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Karim Janat, 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11 Noor Ahmad

Stats and trivia

• Incredibly, these teams have only played one T20I against each other, in the 2016 World Cup. Sri Lanka won that match with seven balls to spare.
• Nabi has played more T20Is in the UAE than anywhere else, with 35 appearances. His stats on both fronts are impressive. He's made 593 runs here, striking at 138. And he's taken 31 wickets, with an economy rate of 7.09.
• Shanaka's 2022 form is a huge improvement on previous years. He's not only never hit more than 224 runs in other years (he has 308 so far this year), he'd also not struck at more than 135 in any year in which he'd hit more than ten runs.

Quotes

"We're hoping to use a familiar combination. We'll have two main fast bowlers, and an allrounder in Chamika Karunaratne. And we might have a left-armer too."
Sri Lanka captain Shanaka on the seam attack's likely make-up.

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf

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Hasan Ali in Pakistan Asia Cup squad after Mohammad Wasim is ruled out

PCB confirmed that the team management had asked for Hasan as a replacement and chief selector Mohammad Wasim accepted the request. When the 16-man squad had been announced earlier this month, Naseem Shah had been called up to replace Hasan. Now, with Afridi and Wasim out, Pakistan's pace-bowling unit has Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shah and Hasan. Their campaign at the Asia Cup starts on August 28 against India.

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Asia Cup 2022 - Wasim Akram worried about Pakistan's middle order, says they can compete with India 'day in and day out'

Wasim Akram believes Pakistan's win over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup has made them believe "they can compete against India day in and day out". He feels what was once a one-sided rivalry at World Cups has suddenly come alive.

"Pakistan team is on the rise for the past couple of years," Akram said during a media session organised by Star Sports. "They've been consistent, and I think the win against India, although that was a year ago during the World Cup, gave them a bit of confidence that they can compete against India day in and day out."

When Pakistan won their opening game of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE by ten wickets, it was their first win against India in six attempts at the competition. It was also the first time Pakistan had won a men's World Cup fixture in any format against India, across 13 matches. It was a win that spurred their impressive run to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Australia.

As they look to finetune their preparations for this year's T20 World Cup in Australia, Pakistan will look to channel that spirit of 2021. This weekend, India and Pakistan will lock horns for the first time in a year when they meet in the Asia Cup in Dubai. In fact, over the next two weeks, they could potentially meet three times, ahead of their high-stakes T20 World Cup fixture in Melbourne on October 23.

Akram is optimistic of Pakistan's chances, but is aware that the team's strength - the top order - could become a weakness. Since the start of last year's T20 World Cup, Pakistan's top three have scored 67.53% of all the runs made by the team in T20Is. This has largely been down to Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman.

"The only thing I'm worried about is the middle order," Akram said. "There is no experience apart from Iftikhar Ahmed coming in at No. 4, and then you'll have probably Haider Ali, a young sensation who hasn't been consistent. Babar Azam and Rizwan are the key as far as the T20 format is concerned.

"I think in general they're confident, but it depends on how they feel or what sort of mindset they're in when they arrive before the India-Pakistan game because that game can make or break the Asia Cup for either side."

Akram agreed that comparisons between Babar and Virat Kohli were inevitable, given the kind of impact they have had on their respective teams, but it's best avoided. To him, Babar is not yet there, but has all the makings of being a modern-day great.

"It's only natural," Akram said of the comparison. "When we played, people compared Inzamam-ul-Haq with Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar. Before that, it was Javed Miandad versus Sunny [Sunil] Gavaskar. Gundappa Viswanath and Zaheer Abbas. So [the comparison] is only natural.

"Babar has been very consistent because he has the right technique. He enjoys his batting, is still very hungry, physically fit, still young and is the captain across formats. He's learning and learning very quickly. As far as comparisons go, he's on the right track to be where Virat Kohli is. It's a bit too early to compare him to Kohli at this stage, but he's on track to be one of the modern greats."

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/asia-cup-2022-wasim-akram-worried-about-pakistans-middle-order-says-they-can-compete-with-india-day-in-and-day-out/?feed_id=14978&_unique_id=6305986074e1e

Asia Cup 2022 - Sri Lanka news

A calf strain has put Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka's premier short-format quick, out of the Asia Cup. A member of the Sri Lanka team management told ESPNcricinfo that Chameera picked up the injury "three-or-four days ago" and will not recover in time for the Asia Cup.

A doctor working with the team confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Chameera's ankle injury, which has to do with his achilles tendon, has now moved up into the calf. While the injury has not been fully assessed yet, it is thought he can regain fitness in time for the T20 World Cup which begins mid-October.

On Saturday, Chameera had been named in Sri Lanka's 18-man squad for the Asia Cup despite not completing a full recovery from an ankle injury. At the time, it was understood that Chameera would be given as much time as possible to regain full match fitness. This will no longer be the case.

Right-armer Pramod Madushan, who had been part of the standby list when the squad was announced, has been added to the main squad as Chameera's replacement.

Chameera's absence will put additional pressure on an inexperienced Sri Lankan seam-bowling attack at the Asia Cup. Their fast-bowling contingent now has Dilshan Madushanka, Madushan, Asitha Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana - all uncapped in T20Is - with allrounders Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka as the other options. Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha are also unavailable because of injuries.

Their spin attack, however, wears a more potent look, with Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama and Jeffrey Vandersay in the mix. Still, Sri Lanka will need to find alternative options to deliver the new-ball and death overs Chameera frequently delivered.

Sri Lanka's campaign begins on August 27 against Afghanistan in Dubai.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/asia-cup-2022-sri-lanka-news/?feed_id=14614&_unique_id=63047dde0a2ab

Royal London Cup - Krunal Pandya's Warwickshire stint ended by groin injury

A groin injury has cut short Krunal Pandya's stint with Warwickshire. The allrounder, who was signed by the county team for the Royal London One-Day Cup, is due to return to India on Monday evening.

Krunal picked up the injury while scoring 37 during Warwickshire's match against Nottinghamshire on August 17. He didn't come out to field during the second innings of the match, and also missed Warwickshire's next two games against Middlesex and Durham.

Consultation with doctors has revealed that the injury is likely to keep Krunal out of action for three weeks, leaving him unavailable for the knockout stages should Warwickshire reach them.

"It's frustrating to lose Krunal for the remainder of the tournament, but he leaves the club with our very best wishes," Warwickshire's director of cricket Paul Farbrace said in a statement issued by the county. "Krunal was an excellent role model around the group and I'm sure the younger members of the squad will have learnt a lot from him on and off the pitch.

"Due to the short turnaround, we won't be signing a replacement, however, I'm incredibly excited to see our squad build on Sunday's excellent win over Durham."

Krunal played five Royal London Cup matches for Warwickshire this season, scoring 134 runs at an average of 33.50, including an 82-ball 74 in the tied game against Surrey at The Oval. He picked up nine wickets at 25.00 with his left-arm spin, including successive three-fors against Sussex and Leicestershire.

Warwickshire currently sit in fifth place in Group A of the Royal London Cup, with nine points from seven games, just one point behind the four teams currently ahead of them.

Krunal was one of two Indian players signed by Warwickshire this season, the other being fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who has been roped in for the closing stages of the County Championship Division 1 season.

The 31-year-old Krunal, who plays for Lucknow Supergiants in the IPL, is hoping to revive his international career, having last played for India during a tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021. He has played five ODIs and 19 T20Is so far.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/royal-london-cup-krunal-pandyas-warwickshire-stint-ended-by-groin-injury/?feed_id=14390&_unique_id=6303d40e997db

Bangladesh appoint S Sriram T20 consultant for Asia Cup, T20 World Cup

"We are not a strong side when it comes to T20 matches, and to do something about that, we have decided to bring drastic changes in our thought process and mentality," Hassan said. "'We want to start anew from the Asia Cup, and if we don't do it now, we will face even worse results in the World Cup. We have done appallingly in the last T20 World Cup. We don't know if we can get out of the circle of substandard results in T20 games. Since the Asia Cup is the biggest stage after the World Cup, we will try to change our way of playing and bring results."

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/bangladesh-appoint-s-sriram-t20-consultant-for-asia-cup-t20-world-cup/?feed_id=13149&_unique_id=62ffdb0246532

Qatar sends 1,300 buses onto streets in World Cup transport test

More than a million fans are expected to visit the Gulf nation, where organisers hold a trial of what is being touted as "the most complex transport operations ever mounted for a major sporting event."

Oganisers mimicked the schedule for the busiest days of the tournament when about 300,000 fans could be in Doha at the same time. (AFP)

World Cup organisers have sent 1,300 buses onto the streets of Qatar's capital Doha in a test of what they have called one of the most elaborate transport operations ever mounted for an international event.

"This is the most complex transport operations ever mounted for a major sporting event," said Ahmad al Obaidly, chief operating officer of Mowasalat, on Thursday. 

Mowasalat operates Qatar's bus and taxi services.

In the first scrutiny of their years of preparations, organisers mimmicked the schedule for the busiest days of the tournament when about 300,000 fans could be in Doha at the same time.

Amid sweltering summer heat, hundreds of air-conditioned but mainly empty buses went out to stadiums, metro stations and pickup points.

At the Al Wakra metro station in the Doha suburbs, more than 1,000 Mowasalat drivers pretended to be fans to be ferried to the Al Janoub stadium five kilometres away.

The Al Bayt stadium, where the opening game will be held on November 20, does not have its own metro station.

With more than one million people expected to descend on the tiny Gulf state for the tournament, the government is taking no chances with their multi-billion dollar preparations.

And getting the football hordes around the city and between the eight stadiums promises to be one of the biggest challenges.

READ MORE: FIFA increases squad limit to 26 players for 2022 Qatar World Cup

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3ZqjcIDAeA[/embed]

'No fan will be left behind'

Hundreds of buses without passengers plied the 25 kilometres to the nearest station in the new city of Lusail, as they will when they take England and US fans to their match.

The buses even made the return journey after midnight to copy conditions for the Group B late night game.

"We want to make sure our plans are going in the right direction," said Thani Al Zarraa, mobility operations director for the Qatar organisers.

Obaidly said 3,000 buses had been purchased and there would be more than 4,000 on the streets for the World Cup.

The company has also doubled its number of drivers to 14,000 for the event. Most have been brought in from South Asia and Africa.

They have been trained in "defensive driving" to avoid on-the-road hazards and there are "contingency plans" for troublesome spectators, the executive said.

Each bus also has five CCTV cameras monitored at a central command centre for troublemakers.

After the tournament, Qatar's older buses will be given away and as part of its World Cup legacy, it will be "one of the first countries in the world to have a pure electric public transportation service," said Obaidly.

Al Zarraa advised visiting fans to plan their trips in advance and "be patient". But the bus company chief promised: "No fan will be left behind."

READ MORE: Ticket sales for Qatar World Cup launched at reduced prices

Source: AFP

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Andre Russell says I want to win another World Cup for West Indies

Andre Russell has insisted he still wants to win "another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies" and that he still has ambitions to play international cricket.

Russell has not played for West Indies since the T20 World Cup in November 2021. Last week, he responded to head coach Phil Simmons' suggestions that he should not be "begging" players to make themselves available for international cricket, writing "I know this was coming but am gonna stay quiet!!!" with four 'angry' emojis in a since-deleted Instagram post.

Russell, who is currently in England playing for Manchester Originals in the Hundred, was asked about his situation by Daren Sammy, the former West Indies captain, during Sky Sports' build-up to their game against Welsh Fire on Tuesday night.

"I'm going to be quiet," Russell said, "because at the end of the day, we had a discussion, and the discussion was very clear. So now, making me look bad, throwing me under the bus… I was expecting it. I'm going to stay quiet, Daren, to be honest."

But Russell did respond when Sammy asked if he still wanted to play for West Indies, saying: "Of course, of course. The maroon is all over.

"Honestly, I have two franchise hundreds and I wish those hundreds were actually playing for West Indies. I don't regret saying this just now. I really enjoyed playing for Jamaica Tallawahs but those two hundreds, it would be more special coming in international cricket.

"I always want to play and give back. But at the end of the day, if we are not agreeing on certain terms, you terms is my terms [sic], and they have to respect my terms as well. At the end of the day, it is what it is. We have families and we have to make sure that we give our best opportunity while we have one career.

"It's not like I can start over again. I'm 34 and I want to win another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies because at the end of the day, I'm here now, and I'm just taking it day by day."

Russell will leave the Hundred next week to play in the CPL for Trinbago Knight Riders, and Desmond Haynes, West Indies' lead selector, has suggested that performances in that tournament will be a major factor in World Cup selection. "If there is a competition that is run by the West Indies [and] somebody is playing well, I think his name should really come up for selection," he said last week.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/andre-russell-says-i-want-to-win-another-world-cup-for-west-indies/?feed_id=11784&_unique_id=62fbe2499a6f4

Bangladesh cricket - Shakib Al Hasan named Bangladesh captain for Asia Cup and T20 World Cup

Shakib Al Hasan is back in charge for Bangladesh in T20Is, being named captain for the upcoming Asia Cup, New Zealand tri-series and the T20 World Cup.

The BCB made the announcement this afternoon, bringing to an end the uncertainty of the past couple of weeks, when Shakib was told by the board to choose between playing for Bangladesh or keeping his endorsement with a "betting company". Shakib had duly ended his deal with Betwinner News. It is understood that he is likely to be asked to stay on as a long-term captain in the format. He was appointed Test captain in June after Mominul Haque stepped down.

The BCB also announced a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, which will be played in the UAE from August 27. Middle-order batter Sabbir Rahman, who last played a T20I in 2019, returns to the squad, while Mushfiqur Rahim, who was rested for the T20I series against Zimbabwe, is also back. While Litton Das misses out due to his hamstring injury, there was no place for Shoriful Islam, Munim Shahriar and Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin returns though his recurring back problem remains a concern, while fast bowler Ebadot Hossain also earns a place. Nurul Hasan has been named in the squad despite a finger injury, but BCB said they are expecting an update on him on August 21.

While Sabbir did not have a great BPL season - where he made 109 runs in six matches - he scored 515 runs at 39.61 average in the Dhaka Premier League one-day tournament. He also caught the eye during the Bangladesh Tigers programme, where a number of fringe players are trained. Sabbir has been sent to the Caribbean to play one-day matches For Bangladesh A against West Indies A. He has played 44 T20Is so far, for 946 runs at an average of 24.89.

"We have seen him [Sabbir] in the domestic T20 side," selector Minhajul Abedin said. "We think he has the experience. We have sent him to play in the one-day series against West Indies A, to give him some game time."

Bangladesh had missed the initial deadline for naming the Asia Cup squad, while the board sorted out the Shakib sponsorship issue. Bangladesh will be one of six teams contesting the main round of the Asia Cup, along with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and a qualifier. The identity of the qualifier will be known via a qualifying tournament that starts on August 20.

Yunus: 'We have asked Shakib to not commit such a mistake again'
Shakib was "misguided" into the deal with Betwinner and vowed not to repeat the "mistake", according to BCB's cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus. Shakib had met with the BCB high-ups, including board president Nazmul Hassan, in Dhaka earlier in the day.

"Shakib admitted his mistake (regarding Betwinner controversy), but he is important for us," Yunus said. "He is still our best player. We had already decided on Shakib being the captain earlier, so we are sticking to it. He thought it was an online news website. He felt he was misguided. He has said he has terminated the (Betwinner) contract. We are hopeful he will not repeat it again. We have asked him not to commit such a mistake again. We have ended the whole thing."

Nurul had taken over in T20Is from long-time white-ball captain Mahmudullah for Bangladesh's previous assignment, in Zimbabwe, before being sidelined by a fractured finger. Mosaddek Hossain then captained the team in the last of three T20Is in Zimbabwe, as Bangladesh went down 2-1.

The T20I tri-series in New Zealand, which also involves the hosts and Pakistan, starts on October 7 and will be Bangladesh's last chance to fine-tune for the T20 World Cup, which is set to be played in Australia in October-November.

Bangladesh's Asia Cup squad: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Anamul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nurul Hasan, Taskin Ahmed

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/bangladesh-cricket-shakib-al-hasan-named-bangladesh-captain-for-asia-cup-and-t20-world-cup/?feed_id=10643&_unique_id=62f89208d8948

India Asia Cup squad - Deepak Chahar, R Ashwin, Deepak Hooda

Later this week or early next week, India's selectors will pick the squad for the Asia Cup - their last selection before having to put together the 15 for the T20 World Cup in October. While there are home T20I series against Australia and South Africa after the Asia Cup in September, it is likely that the World Cup squad will have to be named before those matches.

India could approach the Asia Cup in two ways: pick their best squad, or use the tournament to further assess options for the World Cup. As things stand, provided everyone is fit, 12 slots are sealed. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik on the batting front. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja should be the two allrounders. Yuzvendra Chahal should be the wristspinner to go with three fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel. That leaves, in ESPNcricinfo's eyes, three slots open.

Whether India pick these 12 and their first choices for back-up roles for the Asia Cup, or give one final chance to other contenders, remains to be seen. The idea could be to cover as many bases as possible with the remaining three players. Here are some of the options for whom the Asia Cup selection will be crucial.

Deepak Chahar
Not too long ago, Deepak Chahar might have been India's preferred option as the powerplay wicket-hunter, but in his injury-forced absence, Bhuvneshwar has served a timely reminder of his class. Chahar's ability to hit sixes will still tempt India, especially to cover for the possibility of Jadeja not succeeding. While Hardik and Jadeja will be India's first choices as allrounders, Jadeja's strike rates both with bat and ball have been a concern this year. So if Jadeja's batting doesn't quite click, India could look for a more attacking spin option, in which case Chahar can lengthen the batting order. India will surely want to see how he goes at the Asia Cup.

R Ashwin
A piece of trivia: in 2022, Ashwin has a better batting strike rate than Jadeja in T20s. But batting is not the reason for Ashwin's resurgence in this format. The offpsinner has emerged as the bankable bowler that teams have gone back to of late: an experienced bowler who can give you four overs of considerable wicket-taking potential and few horrible days. Ashwin has a good chance of playing against teams with several left-hand batters, especially if India can find Jadeja's runs from elsewhere. But if they're up against a line-up that is right-hander heavy, then Chahal and Jadeja will probably play as first-choice spinners, and it is hard to imagine a scenario in which India play three spinners.

Axar Patel
Axar is a like-for-like back-up for Jadeja. The shorter the format gets, the bigger the threat Axar poses to Jadeja's place. However, it is unlikely India will pick a player who is a back-up in that exact role and not much else. Eventually, it is going to be either Jadeja or Axar in the XI. So if Axar makes the cut for the Asia Cup, it will mean he is still a threat to Jadeja's place.

Deepak Hooda
Hooda has taken every opportunity that has come his way in 2022. He has also proved his utility with the ball, should he be required to sneak in an over or two against left-hand batters. While it's likely that one batter from the first-choice 12 mentioned earlier will already be on the bench, there could still be place for Hooda as a second batting back-up in the squad of 15.

Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep's USP is his ability to nail yorkers at the death and the fact that he is the only left-arm quick in the running. If India pick only one fast-bowling back-up, it could come down to Arshdeep vs Chahar. Arshdeep could lose out on the batting front, because in Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal, India already have two sure starters who aren't six-hitters. Chances are, India pick both Arshdeep and Chahar for the Asia Cup and see how they go.

Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi
The two wristspinners have been around the T20I set-up for the last few months, but India's recent selections suggest they will not play two wristspinners in the same XI, and they might not need back-up for Chahal. However, don't be surprised if one of Kuldeep and Bishnoi makes the cut for the Asia Cup.

If you had to pick three of the following seven players to complete India's 15-man squad, who would you choose?

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/india-asia-cup-squad-deepak-chahar-r-ashwin-deepak-hooda/?feed_id=6826&_unique_id=62eca5a8811c4