Best Asian ODI XI of all time

The evolution of cricket has been quite radical, as ODIs and T20s seem to dominate the World Cup presently.

The first international ODI game was between Australia and England in 1971 at Melbourne. The first Asian country to get permanent ODI status was Pakistan, followed by India and Sri Lanka.

Since then, Asian countries have dominated world cricket with India being the first Asian country to win a World Cup in 1983. Pakistan and Sri Lanka won the 1992 and 1996 World Cups respectively.

The Asia Cup is the ODI tournament played between the Asian countries since 1984. India is the most successful team in this, winning it six times. Bangladesh has also been part of the Asia Cup but hasn't been able to win even a single tournament.

Asian cricketing nations have provided some great players to the cricket world like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya and Inzamam ul Haq. Let us look at the greatest Asia XI of all time.

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#1 Sourav Ganguly

The former Indian skipper, who made his ODI debut against West Indies in 1991, has represented India in 311 ODI games. The left-handed batsman has scored 11363 runs at an average of 40.73. He is arguably the best left-handed batsman India has ever seen.

Ganguly and Sachin are unarguably the best opening pair India has ever produced. Ganguly has the power to smash the bowlers in the powerplay and also score some big scores. He will surely make into the all-time XI owing to his contribution for the Indian team. Sourav Ganguly's overall ODI performance.

Matches- 311, Runs- 11363, Average- 40.73, Strike Rate- 73.71, Best score- 183.

#2 Sanath Jayasuriya:

The Sri Lankan batsman, who is known for his aggressive batting, has scored 13340 runs at an average of 32.36. He is also a left-arm orthodox bowler who could provide the breakthroughs whenever the team was in need.

Jayasuriya, along with Romesh Kaluwitharana, helped Sri Lanka win the country's first ever ICC cricket World Cup in 1996. He along with Ganguly will be a treat to watch for the cricket fanatics

Matches- 445, Runs- 13340, Average- 32.36, Highest score- 189, Hundreds- 28.

#3 Virat Kohli:

The Indian skipper who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2008 has represented India in 211 ODI games. Kohli has scored 9779 runs in 211 games at an average of 58.21 and has also scored 35 centuries and 48 fifties.

Kohli's highest ODI score of 183 came against Pakistan in 2012. The modern great is one of the finest when it comes to this form of the game scoring plenty of runs. Virat Kohli is known for scoring runs at a good pace converting his starts to big scores.

Matches- 211, Runs- 9779, Average- 58.21, Best score- 183, Hundreds- 35

#4 Sachin Tendulkar:

The cricket god, who made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1989, has represented India in 463 ODI games. Sachin has scored 18426 runs at an average of 44.83 which includes 49 centuries and 96 fifties.

He has also scored the first ever double century in ODIs scoring 200 against South Africa in 2010. The legendary batsman has plenty of runs in this form of the game.

Matches- 463, Runs- 18426, Average- 44.83, Best score- 200, Hundreds- 49.

#5 Kumar Sangakkara:

The Wicketkeeper-batsman, who made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 2000, has represented Sri Lanka in 404 ODI games. Sangakkara has scored 14325 runs at an average of 41.98 which includes 25 centuries and 93 fifties.

His highest individual score of 169 came against South Africa in 2013. The Wicket Keeper batsman has plenty of runs in this form of the game. Kumar Sangakkara is one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen World cricket has ever seen.

Matches- 404, Runs- 14325, Average- 41.98, Hundreds- 23, Best score- 169.

#6 Inzamam-ul- Haq:

The right-handed batsman, who made his ODI debut against West Indies in 1991, has represented Pakistan in 378 ODI games. Inzamam-ul-Haq has scored 11739 runs at an average of 39.53 which includes ten centuries and 83 fifties.

His highest individual score of 137 came against New Zealand in 1994. The stylish batsman has plenty of runs in this form of the game and is one of the greatest cricketing legends Pakistan has ever produced.

Matches- 378, Runs- 11739, Average- 39.53, Hundreds- 10, Best Score- 137.

#7 M.S. Dhoni (Captain and Wicket Keeper):

The former skipper, who made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004, has represented India in 321 ODI games. Dhoni has scored 10046 runs at an average of 51.26 which includes ten centuries and 67 fifties. His highest individual score of 183 came against Sri Lanka in 2005.

The wicketkeeper-batsman has plenty of runs in this form of the game and is one of the greatest cricketing legends India has ever produced. He is also the only captain in the history of cricket to win all the three ICC tournaments.

Matches- 321, Runs- 10046, Average- 51.26, Hundreds- 10, Best score- 183.

#8 Shahid Afridi:

The dashing all-rounder, who made his ODI debut against Kenya in 1996, has represented Pakistan in 398 ODI games. Afridi has scored 8064 runs at an average of 23.58 which includes six centuries and 39 fifties.

His highest individual score of 124 came against Bangladesh in 2010. Afridi has also scalped 395 wickets in this form of the game and is one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of World cricket.

Matches- 398, Runs- 8064, Average- 23.58, Hundreds- 6, Wickets- 395.

#9 Muttiah Muralitharan:

The off-spinner, who made his ODI debut against India in 1993, has represented Sri Lanka in 350 ODI games. Muralitharan has scalped 534 wickets at an average of 23.08 which includes ten five-wicket hauls.

His best bowling performance of 7/30 came against India in 2000. Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in the history of ODI cricket. He is one of the greatest bowlers in the history of World cricket.

Matches- 350, Wickets- 534, Average- 23.08, Best Figures- 7/30, Economy- 3.93.

#10 Wasim Akram:

The pace bowler, who made his ODI debut against New Zealand in 1984, has represented Pakistan in 356 ODI games. Akram has scalped 502 wickets at an average of 23.53 which includes six five-wicket hauls.

His best bowling performance of 5/15 came against Zimbabwe in 1993. Wasim is the second highest wicket-taker in the history of ODI cricket. His pace and ability to swing the ball makes him one of the best bowler in the history of the world cricket.

Matches- 356, Wickets- 502, Average- 23.53, Best Figures- 5/15, Economy- 3.90.

#11 Waqar Younis:

The pace bowler, who made his ODI debut against West Indies in 1989, has represented Pakistan in 262 ODI games. Younis has scalped 416 wickets at an average of 23.84 which includes 13 five-wicket hauls.

Waqar Younis is the third highest wicket-taker in the history of ODI cricket. His best ODI performance of 7/36 came against England in 2001. His wicket-taking capability and assistance to young bowlers make him a must in the All-Time Asian ODI XI.

Matches- 262, Wickets- 416, Average- 23.84, Best Figures- 7/36, Economy- 4.69.