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Since its inception in 1971, ODIs have been the most popular format in International cricket. With the passage of time, many changes were adopted in ODI cricket, one of them being the introduction of World Championships (Now World Cup) in 1975. Till date, the World Cups are undoubtedly the most successful cricket tournaments.
Pakistan was the first Asian team to be given the ODI status in 1973. It was followed by India (1974) and Sri Lanka (1983). Cricket might have originated in England, but it has seen its best charm in the Asian countries. Indeed, cricket has become a religion in Asia. The popularity in this continent is ever increasing- from worshipping the players as demi-gods to burning their posters on their failures, Asian cricket has seen it all!
Asia cup, organized for the first time in 1983, has reached its 15th outing. India has been the most successful team in Asia cups winning 6 titles (5 ODI, 1 T20). Even, the Asians players are on top of the individual records in World cricket. Sachin Tendulkar is the batsman with most runs while Muralidharan being the one with the most wickets! This list discusses the best Asian ODI XI.
Openers:
#1 Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Teran Jayasuriya scored 13430 runs 445 matches. He is the third most capped ODI player ever. He began his career as a slow left-arm spinner, however, finished as one of the most attacking openers in world cricket. He has also taken 323 wickets and is the only player to have 10k+ runs and 300+ wickets in ODIs.
#2 Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, often known as the God of cricket, will make to any all-time XI whatsoever! Scoring the most ODI runs ever, Sachin also has 49 ODI centuries under his chin. He has scored 18426 runs in 463 ODIs with an average of 44.83 and scalped 154 wickets. He has won numerous matches for India, both with the bat as well as the bowl.
Honourable mentions:
Some of the world's GOATs missed out their positions in front of this dynamic duo. Virendra Sehwag, Saeed Anwar, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tamim Iqbal being some of them.
Middle Order:
#3 Sourav Ganguly (VC)
Hitting 10000+ runs, scalping 100 wickets, taking 100+ catches, Sourav Chandidas Ganguly is one of the very few players in ODI cricket to do this. The, then, most successful Indian (Even, then, Asia's most successful) skipper has been named as the deputy-skipper of this squad.
He scored 11363 runs in 311 innings and is India's second highest run-getter. The God of Off-side is credited for leading India from the front, lifting Indian cricket up from the very infamous Match-fixing saga, making the team believe to win overseas, and recreating hopes of billions of Indians in Indian Cricket Team.
#4 Virat Kohli
The Greatest batsman of the modern era, Virat Kohli has already scored 35 ODI centuries and is just below Sachin Tendulkar in the list. He has hit the fastest ODI century for India.
Scoring 9779 runs with an average of 58, he is the second highest run-getter amongst the non-retired players. He is the highest run scorer in ODI cricket since 2008 and has represented India in 211 matches till now.
#5 Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's best ODI batsman, makes at number 5 in this list. Inzi represented Pakistan in 378 ODIs, scoring 11739 runs with 10 centuries. Pakistan's middle order relied a lot on Inzi during his days. This Legend from Pakistan is even considered as One of the Greatest Batsmen of all time.
Honourable mentions:
The most difficult job was to pick 3 most suitable players among plenty of others at number 3,4,5 in this XI. Well, finally this 3 had to make it above the likes of Rahul Dravid, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Mahela Jayawardene, Arjuna Ranatunga, Mohammed Azharuddin, Marvana Attapattu, and Misbah-ul-Haq.
#6 Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara might have batted at number 3,4 throughout his career, but he is too good not to make this list. His stylish cover-drives will always come in handy whenever the team requires to score quickly.
This Sri Lankan veteran is the second in the list of Leading run scorers in ODI cricket. Representing Sri Lanka for 404 ODIs, he has scored 14234 runs with 25 centuries and 93 fifties. He also has second most 50s in ODI cricket.
#5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (VC & WK)
MS Dhoni is not only the skipper of this side but also the most successful Asian Captain ever, following just after Ricky Ponting when it comes to world cricket. Mahi has represented India for 321 ODIs, scoring 10046 runs with a whopping average of 51. He has scored most number of runs at number 6 or below, and is certainly, one of the best finishers of all time.
Being one of the best wicket-keepers, world cricket has ever witnessed, MS will definitely be the one behind the wickets in this team. He'll be handy in getting help from Dada with the field placements and his understanding about the game is the key for any side to win matches.
Honourable mentions:
Yuvraj Singh, Javed Miandad, Shoaib Malik, Ajay Jadeja, are likely to be missed out in front of these two cricketing Legends.
Bowlers
#8 Shahid Afridi
Boom-Boom Afridi will make the list at number 8. He represented Pakistan for 398 ODIs and scored 8034 runs. He is also the 2nd most successful Asian spinner in ODIs with 9 five-wicket hauls. He had the record of fastest ODI century for almost 2 decades as he scored one in just 37 balls way back in 1996.
#9 Wasim Akram
The most successful pacer ever, Wasim Akram is the lead pacer of the team. He is the only pacer in ODIs with 500+ wickets. He grabbed 502 wickets in 356 matches with 6 five-wicket hauls. The Sultan of Swing remains unrivaled as the best left-hand pacer ever.
His economy of 3.89 suggests him as the most dangerous bowlers of his time. Not Surprisingly, he'll be an automatic choice in the team.
#10 Waqar Younis
The swing wizard from Pakistan is the second pacer of the team. The duo of Wasim-Waqar is the deadliest bowling duos of all time. Waqar and Wasim are always the best when bowling with each other.
Grabbing 416 wickets in 262 matches, Waqar is the third highest wicket-taker in ODIs. The Swinging yorkers from Waqar are the most glorious to watch for us, but most dangerous for the batsmen to save their wickets.
#11 Muttiah Muralidharan
What is more difficult to decode then the doosras and teesras of Murali! The only bowler in world cricket to take 1000+ wickets is the obvious choice for the second spinner of the side. For the bulk of his career, he had the burden of Sri Lankan bowling attack on his shoulders and he did a very phenomenal job with it.
He played for 350 ODIs and grabbed 534 wickets with a strike rate of 35. In World Cricket, there might be some contenders who could break Sachin's record, but no bowler ever has been in comparison to get even close to Murali's.
Honourable mentions:
Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Javagal Srinath, Chamunda Vass, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdul Rassaq, Abdur Rassaq were some of the players who could have made into this list as the bowlers.
The twelfth man:
#12 Shakib-Al-Hasan
The current World number 1 all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan makes the list as the twelfth man. He has scored 5433 runs in 188 ODIs and also taken 237 wickets. He has greatly influenced Bangladesh cricket and uplifted it to many levels up. Having him as a back up is always fortunate for any limited overs side.
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