ICC Champions Trophy 2017: 5 reasons why Asian teams have been so successful

There is so much to like about the Champions Trophy. 8 top teams are sandwiched in a 2-week period and more often the not rankings do not matter as the performance on the day of the match matters more.

For all the uncertainty and fickleness associated with the T20 version, this ongoing Champions Trophy has been a rollicking affair so far. And when the dust settles, there will be 3 Asain teams amongst the 4 semi-finalists and in conditions which were never supposed to suit them, the performances from these teams have underlined the thrill and unpredictability of the tournament this year.

It was never meant to be, for except India none of the other teams was expected to do make it to final four. Bangladesh, for all their progress, remain the minnows, and Sri Lanka has gone so far down the pecking order that no one speaks about them in world competitions.

But here we are, 3 out of the 4 teams are Asian teams and here in this article, we look at reasons why this competition has been kind to them.

#5 Plenty of limited overs experience

For some reason, the priorities in the sub-continent still go in favour of limited overs cricket as they are sure ways of reaping in the revenues for the boards.

And for this particular reason, teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are so in tune with the rigours of the 50-over affair that nothing and in no situation they seem to be out of pace with what is going on.

There is Pakistan which has been forced to play in the UAE where empty stadiums gap at the players during Test matches, but crowds flock the stands during the limited-overs leg. This has allowed them to react to pressure situations better than other teams.

#4 Young talent is more mercurial

Young Kusal Mendis is one for the future

There was a time when playing by the book was the norm in world cricket and players who were classical in their approach received praise. Not anymore!

Young players coming through the ranks want to force people to sit up and take notice and for this, they do not mind being flamboyant at the expense of being consistent. These mercurial players find more freedom in Asia where people want to enjoy the game and if they come off, they can be real box-office commodities on the day.

Hence, it is not a surprise that along with England, who have turned a real corner after the 2015 annihilation, we have Asian team which is filled with exciting young players.

#3 More mystery in the bowling attack

No more playing by the book

At a time when the bats have become broader and the boundaries have become shorter, orthodox bowling attacks without any variation art often found out.

This has been the case this year too when teams with better variety in their bowling attacks have marched on while teams with stoic resources have fallen by the wayside.

For all their panache, Australia were too one dimensional with their pace bowling stocks, New Zeland followed the same pattern and hence were never able to surprise their opponents and have been dumped out.

#2 English conditions are no longer the same

Flat decks and no swing or seam has made life easy for batters

Yes, the new white ball has not swung this season in England and even under cloudy skies, the ball has just followed straight lines and swing has eluded the bowlers. Hence, this has narrowed the gap between Asian and the other nations by a significant margin as on flaccid batting tracks, historically only swing and seam has troubled the Asian teams, but this has not been the case this tournament.

The top order of the teams which have made it to the next stage have looked at ease against some of the top bowlers of the world, and one huge reason for this has to be the lack of assistance for the bowlers.

#1 Ability to be flexible and the confidence to take on the ‘big boys’

Not overawed by the occasion

As was mentioned before, only India was given any chance of going the journey before the tournament commenced. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had other ideas.

We can afford to give Pakistan the benefit of the doubt, as they have always been ‘unpredictable’ and hence one flash of brilliance and they can do wonders.

Not Bangladesh, they have improved exponentially in the limited overs sector and this tournament is a testament to their unflappable temperament.

Against New Zealand, they were reduced to 33/4 and then Shakib and Mahmudullah scripted a historic heist. It would have been a shock 5 years ago, to even the most ardent of Bangladesh fans. It is not anymore!

They have the pedigree and most importantly have the belief to upstage the more fancied teams as they know they are good enough.

Self-belief is a huge factor and half the battle is won when you believe you can win it!