The commencement of the Asia Cup 2023, one of the biggest cricket competitions of the year, is just right around the corner. The event holds historic significance for all the Asian countries and will serve as a superb warm-up for the ODI World Cup 2023, the year’s biggest event.
As a lead-up to the ODI World Cup, this year’s Asia Cup will be played in the ODI format, unlike last year. This year, six teams in all, including those from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Nepal, will compete.
Squads of all six nations have been announced and finalised with hosts Pakistan and Sri Lanka being at the forefront. Based on the announced squads,
Here is how we ranked all the six the Asia Cup 2023 squads:
6. Nepal
Nepal, ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2023. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Nepal will be captained by 20-year-old Rohit Paudel and feature the internationally renowned cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane as well. There are talented players like Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Shirki, Kushal Malla, and others in the batting unit. The bowling led by Lamichhane Gulsan Jha, and Kishore Mahato also looks decent.
However, despite all the talents in the squad, Nepal would want to see this as an opportunity to learn on the big stage, so they can better themselves when the next chance presents itself.
The youngsters will get a huge opportunity to interact with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Virat Kohli, Shaheen Afridi, and others and learn from them in an opportunity to improve themselves. A lack of experience on the big stage however lands Nepal, the last place on this list.
Nepal Asia Cup squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud
5. Afghanistan
Afghanistan Team. (Photo Source: ICC)
Afghanistan is in Group B in the Asia Cup and will start its campaign against Bangladesh on September 3 in Lahore. Their squad for the Asia Cup 2023 also threw up some surprises as the selectors recalled Rahmat Shah and Karim Janat, who are not regulars in the ODI squad. Rahmat Shah last played an ODI 2 years ago and Janat played his only ODI in 2017.
Of the squad that took part in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan, Wafadar Momand, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, and Shahidullah missed the cut for the Asia Cup.
Najibullah Zadran, who missed the Pakistan series due to injury returned. Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the side which has the usual suspects Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran at the top of the order. There are plenty of spin options in Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin, and Noor Ahmad.
The Afghanistan squad gives the feeling that the selectors went back to experienced players over youngsters to have the security of them performing in pressure situations. Possibly the 3-0 whitewash against Pakistan also pushed them to bring back some known names. Their batting looks a bit inferior when compared to the others in the list.
Afghanistan Asia Cup squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
4. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2022. (Photo Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Sri Lanka is yet to announce its Asia Cup 2023 squad given that they are facing issues of injuries to several of their first-choice players.
Till now fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara have been ruled out of the tournament and star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is also likely to miss a few initial matches of the tournament as he suffered from a thigh injury.
Chameera suffered from a shoulder injury just after he had recovered from ankle surgery and returned to action in the Lanka Premier League.
Apart from this, Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando, who were set to be picked in the Asia Cup squad contracted COVID-19.
This means that the possible squad which will be led by Dasun Shanaka will be light in the bowling department with the likes of Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha and Pramod Madusan sharing the load.
The batting unit is expected to be a strong one, led by Dimuth Karunaratne and featuring Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kusal Mendis. A lot however is still up in the air which puts them at 4th in this ranking of Asia Cup 2023 squads.
Sri Lanka Asia Cup squad: Yet to be announced
3. Bangladesh
Bangladesh ODI Team (Photo Source: Twitter)
Bangladesh announced a decently strong squad, despite Tamim Iqbal ruling himself out of action due to his back issues. Even star batter Litton Das will miss a few matches in the Asia Cup, as he is down with an illness and will not fly with the team to Sri Lanka.
Despite this, Bangladesh has fielded a very good unit led by Shakib Al Hasan and featuring the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, and Taskin Ahmed.
While Saumya Sarkar is missing, his absence is filled up by Najmul Hasan, Towhid Hridoy and other aggressive batters. The spin department will see Afif and Mahedi Hasan supporting Shakib and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The fast bowling unit has both speed and skill in Taskin and Mustafizur and they will be supported by Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Sakib, and Hasan Mahmud. Bangladesh have not won the Asia Cup yet, despite reaching the finals thrice, but with this squad, they might fancy their chances.
Bangladesh Asia Cup squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib
2. Pakistan
Pakistan Cricket Team. (Photo Source: Twitter)
One of the favourites to win the Asia Cup 2023, being the hosts, Pakistan are also coming into the tournament as the number 1 ranked ODI side in the world, a big achievement for Babar Azam as captain.
The PCB has managed to balance both aspects of the game given that they didn’t pick proper all-rounders in the team.
The batting is led by Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Rizwan with support from Imam Ul Haq, Salam Agha, and Abdullah Shafique with hitters like Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz to follow.
Where the Pakistan squad shines is in the pace bowling department with Shaheen Afridi leading the pack consisting of Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. They have support from Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Faheem Ashraf. Shadab Khan will lead the spin department with Usama Mir and Mohammad Nawaz as support.
Overall, the Pakistan side is very threatening and will be tough to beat on slow and batting-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Pakistan Asia Cup squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).
1. India
Team India Asia Cup 2018. (Photo Source: Getty Images)
After much deliberation, the BCCI selection panel unveiled the India squad for the Asia Cup 2023 and it had quite some surprises. The batting will be led by captain Rohit Sharma and the majestic Virat Kohli with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan to support. But the good news for India was the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, both declared fit by NCA after recovering from their respective surgeries.
They strengthen the middle order and solve the No. 4 and 5 spot conundrums. Surprisingly, India also has Tilak Varma in the squad, who is yet to make his ODI debut. Also, Suryakumar Yadav managed to retain his place in ODIs, despite a poor record.
Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja are the all-rounders, while the return of Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammad Shami strengthens the bowling unit. .
Indian team unit will be under the microscope as the performances of several players will be closely monitored keeping the World Cup in mind. Despite all the issues however, the Men in Blue have a fine balance of players who would be looking to win the Asia Cup 2023 and turn up for the ODI World Cup 2023 as favourites.
India Asia Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (travelling reserve).