DHAKA: Few observers, analysts and experts consider India as runaway favorite for winning the Asia Cup 2016 for their current red hot form in T20 version of the game. India in recent past has won T20 series against mighty Australia in Australia and then went on winning the series against Sri Lanka at home.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka at this moment are in the process of rebuilding after retirement of several key players. Host Bangladesh though very strong in ODI format is yet to win many in T20 internationals. Before we discuss let us have a look into the past.

Asia Cup Role of Honor

We would rather not put India at the top on standalone basis. We consider that a good day in the office may turn any of the four teams -- India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- turn the table on the others.

The tournament that starts on Wednesday (February 24) in 2016 with host Bangladesh playing strong India. This game may set the tone of the tournament. Team winning will have fair opportunity of making into the final. For the top teams of South Asia the tournament will be dress rehearsal for ICC T20 World Championship which follows in India.

What May Happen in India –Bangladesh Tournament Opener?

Squads

India: MS Dhoni (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Vubaneswar Kumar , Pawan Negi.

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Shakib Al Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Arafat Sunny, Abu Hider, Nurul Hasan

India undoubtedly has the momentum after recent successes at home and abroad. They have prolific batsmen and they bat deep. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvaraj Singh, Ajinka Rahane, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni all are in the form of their life. Even Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandra Ashwin is no mug with the bat. But circumstances alter cases. Wickets, environment and adaptability matter.

Even this Indian batting side is not invincible. Host Bangladesh has bowlers who can break the backbone of their batting. Indian batsmen were baffled and bemused by Boy Wonder Cutter Master Mustafiz in his baptism. His slow cutter mystery was not decoded when this teenager emerged like a comet against them from nowhere last year. Since then he has matured. Bangladesh has kept him wrapped up for the big occasion. It will not be easy dealing with Mustafiz. Moreover, there are other quality bowlers in Bangladesh team in Taskin Ahmed, a proven success against India in the past. Al-Amin Hossain and Abu Hider Rony are two quality pacers those Indians have not seen so far. Al-Amin bowls well against left handers and Abu Hider has deadly Yorkers.

The quality pace attack will be ably marshaled by champion Mashrafe who is still a Willy old fox. So, it will not be smooth sailing by Indian batsmen at all. Bangladesh has two wicket taking spinners in Shakib and Sunny to back up the pacers. Moreover, the side fields well and take difficult catches. Free scoring against the home side may not be possible.

Bangladesh has strong batting line up as well and India is not that strong in bowling resources. Without injured Mohammad Shami, the attack has grown thinner. Jasprit Bumrah has to prove a lot to fill in his shoes. Ashish Nehra and V Kumar on Bangladesh wicket must not worry Bangladeshi batsmen. But, the team has three top quality spinners in Jadeja, Ashwin and Harbhajan. In end February wickets may suit spin. But matches will start late and dew impacts will come into play. Teams bowling second may have to deal with wet balls.

Bangladesh batting would lose some gloss at the top for the absence of free scoring opener Tamim Iqbal now on parental leave. But Imrul Kayes has the experience to lead the way and guide blaster Soumya Sarkar along. Shakib, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur, Sabbir, Nasir all can play aggressively. All has strokes and all can change gear. Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah have to shoulder additional responsibility of batting the team to winning score.

Soumya, Sabbir, Nasir have youthful exuberance. They must not get carried away. Even T20 matches need partnership and partnerships are built through running singles and rotating the strikes.  But they have to adjust to T20 format and we are sure in the recent times playing so many T20 matches since BPL they have learnt that art of playing T20. Bangladesh should chase any score below 180 and should also defend that with the quality bowling and sharp fielding.
Indians are favorite but Bangladesh are not so behind. Bangladesh definitely has the capability of upsetting the favorites. It will be anybody’s game.

Other Teams

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (C), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Immad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Babar Azam, M Nawaz, M Aamir, Iftikhar Ahmed, M Irfan, Rumman Raees, Wahab Riaz, Khurram Manzoor

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (C), Angelo Mathews (vice-captain), Dinesh Chandimal (Wk), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella (Wk), Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardena, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have somewhat depleted squad for recent retirement of some key players of both teams. But the present squads have enough quality not to be taken lightly. Pakistan has batmen like Mohammad Hafiz, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi and few quality youngsters like Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed. T20 matches need only two players to fire.

The presence of Mohammad Amir has bolstered Pakistan attack as they already had quality bowlers Wahab Riaz, Anwar Ali   and Mohammad Irfan in the team. Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi are experienced bowlers in all format. Given the unpredictability of Pakistan team no sensible analyst can count them off. Teams have to produce their A game to get across Pakistan.

One must not forget that Sri Lankans are current holder of Asia Cup and T20 World Champions. The retirement of two maestros Kumara Sangkkara and Mahela Jayawardene have hurt the Lankans beyond doubt but, the team still has T Dilshan, D Chandimal and A Matthews to some quality youngsters.

Freak genius Lasith Malinga will lead the side. The team has two high quality pacers in Nuwan Kulasekera and Thisara Perera. These two with redoubtable Malinga may cause headache for any batting unit on a slightly assisting wicket. Rangana Herath and Sachitra Senanayake are difficult spinners to take any liberty.

We will conclude predicting that India for its current form and Bangladesh for playing in home condition may have their noses in front but Pakistan and Sri Lanka are not lagging far behind. It can be any one of the top four India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka that may have the last hurrah.

It is an open tournament. The team that holds their nerves and plays consistently well will go all the way. It may be host Bangladesh or any of the other three sub continental giants.

BDST: 1847 HRS, FEB 23, 2016
SR/SMS