Asia Cup 2018: Strongest XI to play against champions India

India are the winners of Asia Cup 2018. Here, the best playing XI from the players of Asia Cup 2018, excluding the players from India, to play against the Champions Team India.

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1. Imam-ul-Haq

Imam-ul-Haq has been a consistent performer for Pakistan in Asia Cup 2018. In the Asia Cup, he has scored 225 runs in five innings at an average of 45. Haq scored runs against all the opponents except India. The fact that he is a left-hander is an added advantage.

2. Mohammad Shahzad

Mohammad Shahzad - The aggressive opener

Mohammad Shahzad showed his power hitting abilities in the tied match against India when he scored a blistering 124 runs off 116 balls with 11 fours and seven sixes. Shahzad was going after the inexperienced Indian bowlers when wickets were falling at the other end. No Indian bowler was spared and finally, Shahzad ended up scoring half of his team’s total score. Shahzad should partner Imam-ul-Haq for the match against champions India.

The left-right combination would be deadly and both are aggressive batsmen who are capable of after going after the bowling in the power play.

3. Mushfiqur Rahim (W.K)

Mushifiqur Rahim - The wicket-keeper batsman

Bangladesh started their Asia Cup campaign in a dramatic fashion when Mushfiqur Rahim scored a sparkling 144 against Sri Lanka in his team’s score of 261. Rahim went from strength to strength thereafter and was unlucky to be out for 99 in the virtual semi-final against Pakistan.

He finished the tournament with an aggregate of 302 runs at 60. Rahim would be the ideal No 3 who could weather the storm in case of early wickets and at the same time capable of making use of the power play overs.

4. Hashmatullah Shahidi

Hashmatullah - The silent performer

Hashmatullah Shahidi had scores of 37, 58, 97 not out, 71 and 0 in the Asia Cup. He was a quiet performer for Afghanistan and nobody even knew he had scored that many runs in the Asia Cup. Shahidi is a solid batsman capable of batting deep into the innings. He is the No 4 player in this team.

5. Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik - the experienced batsman

Shoaib Malik was the savior of the Pakistan team in this Asia Cup. In the first match against India, Shoaib Malik scored 43 before being run-out. In the super four match against Afghanistan, Shoaib Malik remained not out on 51 and in the process won the game for Pakistan. Apart from being the best middle-order batsman, Malik is more than an useful off-spinner. Malik should come at No 5.

6. Mahmudullah

Mahmadullah the all-rounder

Mahmudullah is an attacking middle-order batsman and a good off-spinner. In this Asia Cup, he scored a crucial 74 against Afghanistan in the super Four match when Bangladesh slumped to 87 for 5. In the same match, Mahmadullah bowled five tight overs and chipped in with the all-important wicket of Mohammad Shahzad who was going great guns with a fifty.

Again, in that crucial match against Pakistan, Mahmudullah scored 25 runs and completed his full quota of 10 overs and claimed the important wicket of Imam-ul-Haq for 83. In the final too, Mahmadullah very nearly defended 6 runs in the last over. Mahmadullah is the all-rounder in the team at No 6.

7. Mohammad Nabi

Mohammad Nabi

Mohammad Nabi is the star all-rounder for Afghanistan. He has figured in all the one-day matches that Afghanistan has played. In the tied match against India, Nabi first scored 64 off just 56 balls.

In bowling, Nabi claimed the wickets of Ambati Rayadu and Dinesh Karthik. Nabi is a genuine all-rounder in one-day cricket and deserves a place in the playing XI.

8. Mashrafe Mortaza ( Captain)

Mashrafe Mortaza - The Captain

Mortaza had 6 wickets in the tournament and impressed everyone with his fighting skills and leadership qualities. Mortaza demonstrated the spirit of Bangladesh and he should be the captain of this team.

9. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan

This team would be incomplete without the Afghan star Rashid Khan. Rashid Khan came into the Asia Cup with a lot of reputation and he has enhanced his reputation during the course of this Asia Cup. He was exceptional bowling at the death showing a lot of confidence in his ability.

Rashid Khan, with 10 wickets, is the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament along with Kuldeep Yadav and Mustafizur Rahman. Rashid Khan can wield his willow too when needed.

10. Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman

In this Asia Cup, Mustafizur Rahman was effective both with the new and old ball. For Bangladesh, he made early breakthroughs as well as accurate at the death. In the Super-Four match against Afghanistan, Musfafizur defended six runs in the last over and gave away just three runs. This led to the elimination of Afghanistan and a fresh lease of life for Bangladesh. Mustafizur should be the new ball bowler in this playing XI.

11. Shaheen Afridi

In the few matches that he played for Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi showed what he was capable of in terms of pace and swing. Afridi took four wickets in three matches and should have got more but for the dropped catches off his bowling. Shaheen Afridi is the perfect new ball partner for Mustafizur Rahman.

This playing XI without Indian players should give the Asia Cup Champions India a run for their money. Against this team, India should field the same XI which played the final. What a match it would be.