Asia Cup 2014: Subcontinent's current best XI for ODIs

The Asia Cup has a history of disruptions but in the idea of its conception, it is perhaps flawless. The modern era of cricket owes a lot to the sub-continent where cricket has found passionate audience and where the limited over format has attained maturity.

The Sharjah years of the tournament produced some breathtaking individual performances and some unforgettable moments. The tournament has immense potential in all possible senses and if Bangladesh can get their act together on home soil, 2014 promises to be a delicious spectacle.

The tournament also allows us to stand back and assess the quality that Asia is producing at the moment. This article attempts to put together an Asia XI side which is a round-about but fruitful way of doing the same.

The idea behind the selection was to be as representative as possible without compromising on the quality of the side, to look beyond statistics and numbers and reward aspects such as recent run-of-form and level of skill.

The side thus assembled, hopefully, has the best of what the parts offer. The nucleus of Indian batsmen and Pakistan pace bowling remains and provides a solid spine to the team whereas the fact that Sri Lanka is undergoing a transition is reflected.

Here is, in my opinion, the current best ODI Asia XI:

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma

The selection of the Indian duo was an obvious one and deserved. The pair was hastily put together for the Champions Trophy that India eventually won and has been relatively consistent since inspite of a few hiccups in South Africa and New Zealand.

They complement each other in many ways. The right-left combination is always an asset that can evoke errors from the opposition and make it difficult to set-fields. While Shikhar Dhawan is inclined towards out-and-out aggression but with a method of his own, Rohit Sharma prefers to settle in and capitalize during the middle overs.

They seem to have a good understanding between them which is essential for an opening pair when it comes to running between the wickets and other finer nuances of the game. The best aspect of the pair is that both of them can play the long-innings that is a mark of a top-top batsmen.

Rohit Sharma’s double hundred against Australia late last year was a case in point. Dhawan exhibited the same qualities in the Champions Trophy where he was the highest run-getter. The lack of other established opening partnerships in Asia validates this selection which was made on the basis of individual performances as well as on the merit of the pairing.

Other Options: Tillakaratne Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan

The right-handed batsman is an experienced campaigner in the limited over format of the game. He has the ability to play in multiple gears and is harsh on anything loose thrown at him.

He was in the fray with the national side from a very young age but cam into his own once he was handed the captaincy and emerged out of the shadows of Jayawardene and Sangakkara as the triple pillar of the national side.

With over 8,000 runs at an average of over 37.0 in ODI’s, he will leave a legacy behind for the next generation of cricketers in Sri Lanka.

Middle Order

3. Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara

The Sri-Lankan veteran batsman has anchored his national side for over a decade now and he seems to be maturing like a blessed bottle of wine. Sangakkara provides stability, leadership and a truck load of runs to this side. He is the sort of player who brings through the side out of troubled waters and remains an unsung hero.

The skillful left-handed batsman has every shot in the book and plays pace and spin with equal command. He has all sorts of batting records to his name and he added yet another feather to his cap recently by striking a wonderfully composed triple-ton against Bangladesh.

He is picked in this side ahead of compatriot and equally talented Mahela Jayawardene. It is very difficult to choose between the two and both have been such loyal servants of the game and their national side but Sangakkara nudges ahead in this selection on recent form.

He played some cracking knocks against a full-blooded South African attack at home last year. Also worth a mention is the ton he cracked against England in the Champions Trophy that remains one of the best ODI tons I have witnessed.

4. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Little needs to be said about the merit of this selection. Virat Kohli is arguably the best batsman in the game at the moment.

Certainly, the best for the limited overs format in which he has already stacked up over 5500 runs and 18 tons at 25 years of age. He has begun to show his metal in the Test arena as well and has scored runs against all competitive oppositions in familiar and alien conditions.

His rich vein of form has not dipped since that ton he scored at Adelaide early in 2012. He does not occupy the one-down position in this batting order due to the relatively explosive nature of the opening pair to which Kumar Sangakkara provides a protective cushion in case of an early loss of wicket.

Kohli will be even more destructive at no. 4 when he can dominate the second line of attack and pace his innings according to the situation. He is also one of the best players to have in the side when chasing a target as he exhibited with two magnificent tons against Australia at home late in 2013.

5. Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq has a number of short-comings as a cricketer. He fails to take stock of critical situations at times and can falter in pacing his innings. He bloomed late in his career but even at 39 years of age, he is easily Pakistan’s most consistent and reliable batsman.

Misbah has the quality of standing up for the side when it is in a state of tatters and you can trust him to guide you to a respectable score when a great spell has penetrated the top-order. His consistency is his biggest asset and that’s the factor that has allowed him to sneak into this side.

His compatriot Ahmed Shehzad could take his place in the line-up on the basis of some of his performances late last year against Sri Lanka and South Africa but he needs to more to prove his credentials even as we acknowledge his greater talent.

Lower-Middle-Order/All-rounders

6. Angelo Matthews

Angelo Mathews

The Sri-Lankan captain makes this list for being an ideal sub-continent utility player, an all-rounder who is also the leader of his national side as they move towards the 2015 World Cup.

Angelo Matthews is an not an out-standing batsman, not an out-standing bowler but he manages both aspects of his game with a dedication that makes him an asset to the side.

He gives the side a valuable bowling option whereas his ability to shift gears during the last few overs of the innings is also handy. Sri Lanka have a number of such bit-part players but he is certainly the most-skilled and experienced of the lot.

7. M.S.Dhoni (Capt. and Wk)

MS Dhoni

India’s captain is deservedly the leader of this Asia XI. The rise of and rise of MS Dhoni has been the individual story of the last cricketing decade in my opinion. The player hasn’t put a step wrong ever since he began leading the national side in 2007.

The victory at the inaugural T20 competition earned him the right to build a team of the future which eventually fulfilled India’s long-standing dream of being the world champions.

He maintained the nation’s dominance in the limited overs format by leading the triumphant side at the Champions Trophy in 2013 and there seems to be no stopping him. He merits selection in this side simply for his leadership abilities and the coincidental fact that he is the best finisher in the game’s long history is a merry bonus.

8. Ravindra Jadeja/Shakib-al-Hasan

Shakib-al-Hasan

We have a tie for this spot. Both Ravindra Jadeja and Shakib-al-Hasan boast of a similar skill set providing the side with an economical, wicket-taking spin option particularly competent in sub-continent conditions and limited but critical batting ability.

It is very difficult to choose between the players as they are electrifying on the field and have a kind of X-factor that enables them to make sudden and momentum-swinging impact on the game.

Shakib’s inclusion in the list is also prompted by our need for being representative as there would be no other Bangladesh cricketer in our side otherwise.

Bowlers

9. Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal is arguable the best spinner operating in world cricket at the moment. He has all the elements of a competent practitioner of spin: an effective stock delivery, variation in speed and flight, accuracy, adaptability and a trump card par excellence that is the doosra.

He has bowled some match-winning spells for his side last year memorably two 4-wicket hauls against South Africa and Sri Lanka. The fact that he is fairly orthodox has a certain degree of charm at a time when the game is moving towards the phenomenon of the mystery spinner.

Ravichandran Ashwin would come close to the exploits of Ajmal but his lack of success overseas is a hindrance as well as the fact that he tends to lose himself in the multitude of options that he creates for himself. Disagreements are welcome.

10. Umar Gul

Umar Gul

The fiesty pace bowler from Pakistan is a typical product in a grand tradition of fast bowling. Umar Gul has been around for a while but he seems to have matured as the spearhead of the team’s bowling attack. He has adapted, and gradually improved his skill-set with greater exposure to international cricket and is now the complete package.

He has a deadly out-swinger that tempts batsmen at the top of the innings into their own downfall, an ability to reverse-swing the ball in sub-continental conditions and a toe-killing yorkers that are unleashed during the death overs. He may not reach the legend of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis but he is a handful at the moment.

11. Junaid Khan

Junaid Khan

Junaid Khan’s career stats in the limited format of the game give an indication of the talent that he possesses. He has picked up 73 wickets in 42 matches at an average of 22 runs @ 5.33 runs per over. The pacer has the gift of swing and pace. He poses a threat to the top-order batsmen with his first spell when he brings the ball into the right-handed batsmen with the odd ball moving in the opposite direction.

He can bowl with impressive pace which means that he cannot be knocked around easily in the middle overs and gradual experience will make him a better bowler. He was very impressive late last year picking up 13 wickets in a 5-match series against Sri Lanka which was preceded by an equally impressive display in South Africa.

The left-hand fast bowler is yet another delicious prospect from Pakistan who must be preserved from the many distractions that come with being an international cricketer.

12th Man:

Mashrafe Mortaza

Mashrafe Mortaza: The Bangladesh pacer is recognized for his untiring service of his nation. The fast-bowler had an out-standing skill set and gives the Bangladesh side a different dimension alongside their traditional strength that is economical spin bowling.

Mortaza has a stock out-swinger that is delivered with significant speed which makes him a potent weapon on a lively surface. It is extremely difficult to have any degree of longevity in a struggling side and Mortaza has proved his utility to his national side over the years.

He was the architect of a top achievement when Bangladesh progressed from the group stages of the 2007 World Cup when he picked up a 4-wicket haul against India.