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The 2018 Asia Cup will be a One Day International(ODI) cricket tournament scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates in September 2018. It will be the 14th edition of the Asia Cup and the third time when the tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates, after the 1984 and 1995 editions. India is the defending champions.
Originally, the tournament was scheduled to be played in India. However, it was moved to the United Arab Emirates, following the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan.
Asia has always been a nursery of cricket and has produced many greats of the game. So, let us take a look at the players who make it to the starting line-up of the All-time Asian XI Team in ODI cricket. Please note that all these players have played beyond the year 2000.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Sachin Tendulkar is a former Indian international cricketer and a former captain of the Indian national team, regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He is the highest run scorer of all time in International cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar is universally considered the greatest batsman to have ever played the game. While a few other greats might have scored runs at the same pace as Sachin, none of them boasts of Tendulkar's longevity.
In an incredibly long career, Tendulkar has played in 6 World Cups, a feat matched by only one player in the history of cricket. Tendulkar also possessed the 'golden arm' that could break partnerships at critical junctures and change the course of the match.
In 463 matches for India, he has scored a staggering 18,426 runs at an astonishing average of 44.83 and at an amazing strike rate of 86.24, which is significantly better than any of his contemporaries especially in the 1990s and early 2000s. His attacking gameplay and consistent performances truly revolutionized the sport of cricket.
Such is his status in the world of cricket that he is an automatic choice for Opener no. 1 in our side.
#2 Virender Sehwag (India)
Virender Sehwag is a former Indian cricketer. Widely regarded as one of the most destructive batsmen of all time, Sehwag played as an aggressive right-handed opening batsman and also bowled part-time right-arm off-spin. He played his first One Day International in 1999 and joined the Indian Test side in 2001. In April 2009, Sehwag became the only Indian to be honored as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for his performance in 2008, subsequently becoming the first player of any nationality to retain the award for 2009.
His natural talent, more so his hand-eye coordination was impeccable. Sehwag's approach to batting is based on a simple philosophy i.e see the ball and hit the ball regardless of the events of the previous ball. He was capable of focusing on the next delivery unperturbed by the match situation or anxiety. Yet, he had the anticipation that defines every great batsman.
Sehwag was more than a handy bowler and possessed the art of taking wickets at crucial times. He has taken 96 wickets in his international career with an economy rate of 5.26 per over which is quite decent for a non-regular bowler.
In 251 matches for India, Sehwag scored 8273 runs at an average of 35.06 and with a strike rate of 104.34 runs per 100 balls which is extraordinary, to say the least.
His batting could damage any bowling side in the world in any conditions, therefore he deserves his position as the second opener in the team.
#3 Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli is an Indian international cricketer who currently captains the India national team. An elegant right-handed batsman, Kohli is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world.
Kohli is without any doubt, a modern great and taking into account the rate at which Kohli is scoring runs, don't be surprised if he breaks most of the records set by his predecessors.
In 211 matches for India, Kohli has scored 9,779 runs at an amazing average of 58.21 and a strike rate of 92.12 which is exceptional, to say the least. Kohli is prolific and aggressive in all formats and in every condition and against any kind of bowling attack thereby making Kohli a must for any team.
The relentless run-machine and an expert chaser, the current Indian skipper will take up the vital no.3 slot in the side.
#4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
Inzamam-ul-Haq, also known as Inzi, is a former Pakistani cricketer, and former captain. He’s regarded as one of the greatest Pakistani batsmen in history. He is the leading run scorer for Pakistan in one-day internationals. He was the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team from 2003–07.
The Multan Maestro oozed lazy elegance with the willow and was adept at playing both pace and spin. He seemed to have that extra second more than the other batsman which really distinguished him as a special batsman. He had the game to score in any conditions and against any kind of bowling attack. However, the best part about his batting was that he played according to the situation and was extremely adaptable.
In 378 matches for Pakistan, Inzi scored 11,739 runs at an average touching 40 which very few of his rivals can boast off. For almost a decade, he formed the nucleus of Pakistan's middle-order.
The highest run-getter for Pakistan will take up the no.4 slot in our batting line-up.
#5 Yuvraj Singh (India)
Yuvraj Singh is an Indian international cricketer, who plays all forms of the game. An all-rounder who bats left-handed and bowls slow left-arm orthodox.
There are very few better sights in world cricket than witnessing a free-flowing Yuvraj Singh at his best. Undoubtedly, he is right up there among the greatest match-winners in white-ball cricket. Those glorious cover drives, slap cuts through backward point and an effortless wristy drop kick over mid-wicket, all oozed class.
His utility as a left-arm spinner also made him a complete limited-overs package and his performances were instrumental in India's steady rise in the shorter formats.
Apart from his batting and bowling, Yuvraj was a brilliant fielder as well. On many occasions, Yuvraj singlehandedly turned the tide of a match on the basis of his fielding, be it a spectacular catch or a run-out. He along with Mohammad Kaif revolutionized the concept of fielding in India.
He was an all-round package and a man for the big occasion/ tournament, be it the Natwest Final(2002), Be it the T20 World Cup(2007) or 50 over World Cup Final(2011) where he was rightly adjudged the player of the Tournament, Yuvi's impact not only on Indian Cricket but also the World Cricket has been phenomenal.
In 304 matches for India, Yuvraj has scored 8701 runs for India at an impressive average of 36.56 and an equally impressive strike rate of 87.68. He has contributed from time to time with his bowling as well. He has taken 111 wickets at a reasonable economy rate of 5.1 runs per over.
He deserves his place at no.5 in this team, without a shadow of a doubt.
#6 MS Dhoni (India) (Captain and Wicket Keeper)
Mahendra Singh Dhoni commonly known as MS Dhoni is an Indian international cricketer who captained the Indian national team in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2016 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014. An attacking right-handed middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in limited-overs cricket. He is also regarded as one of the best wicket-keepers in world cricket and is known to have very fast hands.
After taking up the role of captaincy, Dhoni modified his game and became more cautious, but still, retains the ability to destroy bowling attacks when it matters. He is one of the handful of batsmen in world cricket to boast of an ODI batting average in excess of 50, a testament to his amazing consistency.
For being the backbone of many successful run chases in high-pressure situations, Dhoni is rightly considered the greatest finisher in ODI cricket. His glove-work is top-notch too.
As a captain, he led the young Indian side to many splendid victories in limited-overs cricket, the most notable one being the 2011 World Cup triumph in which he himself played a stellar role in the final with an unbeaten 91.
In 320 matches for India, Dhoni has score 10,046 runs at a splendid average of 51.25 and a strike rate of 88.13.
He will bat at number 6 in the side and will captain the side as well.
#7 Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan)
Abdul Razzaq is a former Pakistani cricketer, who played all formats of the game. He is a right arm fast-medium bowler and a right-handed batsman, who emerged in international cricket in 1996 with his One Day International debut against Zimbabwe at his home ground in Gaddafi Stadium. He is widely regarded as one of the best All-Rounders to have played for his country.
Abdul Razzaq came into the Pakistan side at the young age of 17 as a genuine fast bowler who could bat a bit. But over the years, he developed into an explosive batting option, while his bowling has not been as quick as it once used to be. His ability to swing the ball both ways and the power and versatility he brings with the bat made him grow as one of Pakistan's premier all-rounders after the legendary Imran Khan.
In 265 matches for Pakistan, while batting, Razzaq has scored 5080 runs for Pakistan with a batting average of almost 30. Razzaq has also taken 269 wickets with a bowling average of 31.84 which makes him a certainty to play in this team.
He takes his position at number 7 in this team.
#8 Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
Wasim Akram is a former Pakistani cricketer. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. A left-arm fast bowler who could bowl with significant pace, he represented the Pakistan cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International (ODI) matches.
Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game, and perhaps the finest of all left-arm fast bowlers. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is not an aspect of fast bowling that Akram did not have complete mastery over. His place as the greatest left-arm pacer remains unrivaled.
Nicknamed the 'Sultan of Swing' for his exceptional ability to swing the ball, Akram deceived the batsmen with his wide repertoire of skills and was very hard to score off. He also holds the record for being the first bowler in the world to breach the 500-wicket barrier in ODIs.
With 502 wickets in ODIs and 414 in Tests, he is one of the most prolific wicket-takers ever. Not surprisingly, he was also one of the most parsimonious bowlers of his era as his economy of 3.89 shows. The left-arm wizard is an automatic choice and will be the leader of our pace attack.
He definitely deserves his place in the team.
#9 Waqar Younis (Pakistan)
Waqar Younis is a former Pakistani cricketer and a former Test and ODI captain for Pakistan. A right-arm fast bowler, Waqar is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. He is also the former coach of the Pakistani cricket team
At his peak, Waqar unleashed unplayable yorkers like nobody else and hit the bottom of the stumps or the toes of the batsmen at lightning speed. For this capability of his, he was nicknamed the 'Toe Crusher'.
Another title of 'Banana Swing Bowler' was given to Waqar Younis because of his unique technique of swinging the ball in the air at very high speed before hitting the ground. In most of his hat tricks, he has delivered banana swing balls which were unplayable.
And the fact that those yorkers could also swing in any direction multiplied the danger. When in form, Waqar decimated batting lineups mercilessly.
His tally of 416 wickets in 262 matches studded with a bowling average of 23.84 and 13 five-wicket hauls is stupendous and puts him in the pantheon of the greatest pacers in the ODI format. Along with Wasim, he formed one of the most feared bowling combinations ever.
He, without any doubt, deserves to partner Wasim Akram in this team as well.
#10 Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan)
Saqlain Mushtaq is a former Pakistani cricketer, who played Tests and ODIs for 9 years in the international arena. Widely regarded as one of the best spin bowlers ever in the history of cricket, he is best known for pioneering the "doosra", a leg break delivery bowled with an off break action.
It would not have been easy for anyone to play in a team alongside the bowling greats like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis etc but not only did Saqlain play for 9 years alongside them but such was his capability, that he proved himself to be an equal match-winner for Pakistan.
Such was his impact on the sport of cricket that he was named the Wisden cricketer of the year in 2000. He is the fastest to reach the milestones of 100, 150, 200 and 250 wickets in ODIs. He was the first of only 2 spinners to have taken a hat-trick in ODIs.
In 165 innings for Pakistan, Saqlain has taken 288 wickets with a bowling average of 21.79, which is extraordinary, to say the least.
He definitely deserves his place in the team.
#11 Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Muttiah Muralitharan viewed purely through numbers, is a giant performer and is in the unique position of holding the records for most wickets in One Day Internationals as well as Test matches. Murali, without any doubt, the best cricketer and a match winner, Sri Lanka has ever produced.
Murali's biggest weapon was that irrespective of the pitch and the conditions he could turn the ball massively in either direction, thus spinning a web of confusion around the batsmen. It is because of the gigantic success Murali had that the 'Doosra' has become very popular now.
It will be not wrong to say that Murali weaved his magic with a cricket ball in his hands. He has flummoxed generations of batsmen with his prodigious spin, subtle variations and often been a one-man army for the Sri Lankan bowling.
In 341 innings for Sri Lanka, Murali has taken 534 wickets with a bowling average of 23.08.
He without any doubt deserves his place in this team of Asian Greats.
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