All-time greatest ODI left-handed XI from Asia

#3 Wicket-keeeper and All-rounders

Kumar Sangakkara and Shakib Al Hasan lend enormous balance to the playing eleven

Aside from donning the wicket-keeping gloves, Kumar Sangakkara walks into the team at the number four spot in the batting lineup. With a jaw-dropping collection of 14,234 runs from 404 ODIs at an average of 41.98 and strike-rate of 78.86, the Sri Lankan maestro is second only to Sachin Tendulkar in the list of all-time run-scorers in the 50-over format. Apart from registering 25 centuries and 93 fifties, the legendary cricketer also effected a record 482 dismissals behind the stumps.

That Shakib Al Hasan saunters into the batting lineup at number seven speaks volumes about the incredible batting depth in this left-handed dream team from Asia. Unarguably the greatest ever spin bowling all-rounder in the history of ODI cricket, the Bangladeshi icon has played 180 matches thus far and scored 5080 runs at an average of 34.79 and strike-rate of 81 with seven centuries and 35 fifties. In the bowling department, his tally of 226 wickets at an average of 29.95 and economy-rate of 4.44 puts him at third among all left-arm spinners.

When he burst onto the scene in the 2003/04 season, Irfan Pathan instantly began to evoke comparisons with the exalted Kapil Dev. Even though he did not quite live up to those lofty expectations, the southpaw provided many memorable moments to Indian cricket aficionados. 120 ODIs have fetched him 173 scalps at an average of 29.72 and economy-rate of 5.26 with two five-wicket hauls. The left-hander also scored 1544 runs at a decent average of 23.39 with five fifties.