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The biggest prize in Asian Cricket is up for grabs as the Asia Cup is underway in UAE. The teams are playing with passion as they battle it out for the title of 'Asian Champions'.
Cricket has a rich history in Asia and especially in the subcontinent, it is a 'festival'. Fans cheer for their teams and players from the bottom of their heart and that is what keeps the sport alive. Over the years, Asian players have been dominating the game so much so, that the top 5 wicket takers in ODI cricket are all Asians and 5 of the 6 leading run scorers in the format are of the same continent. If that doesn't convince you about the dominance of Asians in the game, there is another stat. 5 of the 10 teams which will be playing the ICC World Cup in England next year are a part of the ongoing tournament in UAE.
This fantasy XI of ours contains players who have played well not only at the Asia Cup but also at every bilateral series and other multi-national tournaments and enjoyed a staggering career in ODI cricket.
Openers- Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya
1.Sachin Tendulkar
The first spot in our XI goes to none other than the 'God of Cricket', Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.63 with 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries, the numbers speak for themselves. Sachin has scored 14 centuries against Asian nations.
Over the course of his 24-yearlong career, Sachin gave his fans numerous memories to cherish. Overall in the Asia Cup, Tendulkar is the 3rd highest leading run-getter with 971 runs to his name in 23 matches at an average of 51.10. The 2012 Asia Cup in Bangladesh was Tendulkar's last in which he scored his 100th hundred against hosts Bangladesh. Incidentally, the Master Blaster played the last ODI of his career in the tournament against arch-rivals Pakistan in which he scored a fifty.
2. Sanath Jayasuriya
The 2nd opener of our side is Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya. The all-rounder is often credited for revolutionizing ODI cricket with his hard-hitting batting. Along with Romesh Kaluwitharana, he formed one of the most explosive pairs in ODI cricket. Jayasuriya is the only all-rounder to score over 10,000 runs, capture more than 300 wickets and to take over 100 catches in ODI cricket.
During his prime, Jayasuriya was one of the most valuable players in ODI cricket as he contributed strongly in all 3 departments of the game. He made his debut in the format in 1989 and announced his retirement in 2011. He was also the first player to play 400 matches in One Day Internationals.
Middle Order- Kumar Sangakkara, Virat Kohli, and Mahela Jayawardena
3. Kumar Sangakkara
Sanath Jayasuriya is followed by another former Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara. Regarded as one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of all time, Sangakkara is the 2nd highest leading run scorer in ODI cricket with over 14200 runs to his name. He also holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in the format.
Under his Captaincy, Sri Lanka reached the final of the ICC World Cup 2011 and he was also a crucial part of the side which reached the final of the previous World Cup in 2007 held in West Indies.
Sangakkara scored over 1000 runs in 26 matches when he represented Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup. At the 2015 ICC World Cup, Sangakkara scored 4 consecutive centuries setting a new record.
4. Virat Kohli
With a few months to go before he turns 30, Virat Kohli is in the peak of his international career. The regular skipper of the Indian team is not a part of the tournament being held in UAE owing to a hectic schedule in the past few months.
After impressing in the U-19 World Cup 2008 and in the Emerging a Nation’s Tournament in Australia, Kohli got a chance in the ODIs against Sri-Lanka in 2008. In a short span of time, he became a regular in the ODI setup.
Currently, he is the no. 1 ranked batsman in the ICC ODI rankings with 911 rating points. He holds the record for the most runs in a bilateral series which he set during the series in South Africa earlier this year.
5. Mahela Jayawardena
With over 12,650 runs to his name in 448 matches, along with 19 hundred over the course of his staggering 17-year career, Mahela Jayawardena is one of the best Asian batsmen to have ever played the game.
Not only was he a prolific run scorer but Jayawardena was also an excellent fielder. He was the captain of the team which reached the ICC World Cup Final in 2007. Unfortunately, his hundred against India in the 2011 World Cup Final in Mumbai went in vain as Sri Lanka lost their 2nd consecutive World Cup Final.
He has played 28 matches in the Asia Cup which is the most by any player in the tournament's history.
Wicketkeeper
6. MS Dhoni (Captain)
The number 6 spot in our side goes to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He is the only player from our XI who he is part of the ongoing edition of the Asia Cup being held in the United Arab Emirates.
Unsurprisingly, the former Indian skipper is also the captain and the wicketkeeper of our team. The 2011 World Cup winning skipper was also the captain of the Indian side which won the Asia Cup 2010 held in Sri Lanka.
In 324 ODIs so far, Dhoni has scored 10079 runs at a staggering strike rate of 88. In July 2018, Dhoni became only the 4th wicketkeeper to complete 300 catches in ODIs.
All-rounders- Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram
7. Shahid Afridi
The former Pakistani all-rounder, Shahid Afridi holds the No. 7 spot in the squad. In his first ever ODI innings, as a 16 years old teen, Afridi scored the then fastest ODI century vs Sri Lanka.
Afridi represented Pakistan in 398 ODIs and scored 8064 runs with 395 wickets to his credit.
He holds the prestigious record of hitting the most sixes in ODI cricket. He was the man of the tournament at the 2010 Asia Cup scoring 265 runs and taking 3 wickets. 'Boom Boom' Afridi was a pinch hitter throughout his career and his strike of 117 is the 3rd highest in ODI cricket.
8. Wasim Akram
Next up in our team is Pakistani all-rounder Wasim Akram. Regarded as one of the finest bowlers of the game, Akram was the first bowler to pick 500 ODI wickets and was the leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket until Muttiah Muralitharan surpassed him in February 2009.
He is regarded as one of the founders of reverse swing. Along with Waqar Younis, he formed one of the deadliest duos in ODI history. In their prime, they troubled the best batting lineups of their era.
He was an integral part of the side which won the World Cup in 1992 and was the Man of the Match in the Final. 7 years later, he was the Captain of the Pakistani side which reached the Final, losing the game to Australia.
Bowlers- Waqar Younis, Chaminda Vaas, and Muttiah Muralitharan
9. Waqar Younis
To team up with Wasim Akram in our team, we have got his favourite bowling partner from his playing days, Waqar Younis. In 262 matches in which Waqar represented Pakistan in One Day Internationals, he went on to take 416 wickets thereby becoming the youngest bowler till date to take 400 wickets in ODIs.
The Burewala Express made his ODI debut in 1989 and was a part of the team which won the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
With 13 fifers to his name, he holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls in ODI history.
10. Chaminda Vaas
At No. 10 on our list is Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas. He is often regarded as the greatest fast bowler of Sri Lanka. Throughout his career, Vaas played a supporting role to Muttiah Muralitharan in the Sri Lankan bowling department.
In 322 matches, Vaas picked up 400 wickets. He holds the record for the best bowling figures in an ODI inning and remains the only bowler to take an 8 wicket haul.
He was a part of the Sri Lankan side which reached the final at 1996 World Cup. He was also the leading wicket-taker at the 2003 ICC World Cup with 23 wickets to his name.
11. Muttiah Muralitharan
Last but not the least on our list is none other than arguably the greatest bowler of all time, Muttiah Muralitharan. Having made his debut in ODI cricket in 1993, Muralitharan was difficult to face and is the leading wicket-taker in the format with 534 wickets to his name in 350 matches.
The Sri Lankan legend was a crucial part of the team which reached the Finals of the ICC World Cup in 2007 as well as in 2011. The Final match vs India in 2011 was Murali's last ODI. Unfortunately, he was on the losing side in both the finals.
He is also the leading wicket-taker in Asia Cup history picking 30 wickets in 24 matches.
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