5 burning questions Asia Cup will answer ahead of WorldT20

The Asia Cup is back, leaner and meaner. The tournament, which for a while, had lost its relevance, largely because of its ODI format, often redundant and squeezed in amidst tight schedules, is trying to prove its importance and justify its existence.The timing of the tournament has ensured that the Asia Cup which goes underway on 24th February will grab enough eyeballs. The reason – it is a T20 tournament, not an ODI competition, keeping in mind the upcoming World Cup.That is a massive decision and a pragmatic one, considering all the four big Asian teams could do with some practice under the sub-continental conditions. UAE has made it through the qualifying round and no matter how the results go from here, they’ll take heart from the fact that they got the better of Afghanistan, whose meteoric rise has been unmatchable in the last couple of years, in the international Associate circuit.Besides providing some high adrenaline entertainment, the Asia Cup will also provide some answers to analysts and fans watching the tournament keenly.

#5 How are the sub-continental spinners performing?

Herath will be Sri Lanka’s best bet to win the tournament

Sri Lanka has Herath and Sachithra Senanayake. Pakistan has Afridi, Hafeez, Malik and Wasim. India has Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh and Pawan Negi. Bangladesh has Nasir Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan and Arafat Sunny. That is a lot of spinners from the sub-continent.

The success of the teams from the sub-continent in the World Cup, which will be played on spinner-friendly tracks, will depend on how well their spinners perform. India boasts of the biggest variety but Bangladesh rely on slowing down the pace using their spinners.

Considering Indian grounds are smaller, spinners getting it wrong can also lose matches for their teams. The Asia Cup will be a good sign of what is to come, as summer sets in and slows the pitches down. A look at the various spinners will show how much each of the teams rely on their tweakers for breakthroughs as well as for containment of runs.

#4 Will the real Dhoni and Yuvraj stand up?

Can Yuvraj and Dhoni lead India to glory yet again?

Indian middle order isn’t really as explosive as it needs to be. There is plenty of experience in the form of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, but can they smash the big runs from the word ‘go’ in crunch situations, is the big question.

India will hope they’ll be tested in that department and it remains to be seen if the two legends of Indian T20 cricket can still hit the long ball. Dhoni’s style of play has evolved considerably over the years and he hasn’t shown the same swashbuckling form that had once made him a cult hero.

Yuvraj is still chalking his comeback and it was trial by fire for him against Australia. Will he take that confidence and prove his worth and weight in the Asia Cup under conditions that favour spin, not the pace he prefers, is a question fans will ask with bated breath.

Interestingly, Dhoni’s numbers in all T20 are legendary – average of 36.6 with a strike-rate of 135. However, he only strikes at 118 in T20I, a number he needs to push up. If Yuvraj can produce the form that helped him strike at 142 in 40 T20I innings, India will definitely be right at the top.

#3 Will Sri Lanka put up a good fight defending their title?

Can Malinga-led Sri Lanka defend their title?

Sri Lanka won a scintillating final in the 2014 World Cup against India, putting an end to their woes in finals of global events. Two years hence, Sri Lanka are still transitioning, without their bigwigs. They have a new captain, Lasith Malinga – probably T20 cricket’s most prolific fast bowler.

However, after a spate of injuries and recoveries, he isn’t the same. His deputy is Sri Lanka’s full-time ODI and Test captain, Angelo Mathews. That will take the pressure off Sri Lanka’s MVP and their most impactful all-rounder often guilty of under-bowling himself.

It could probably be the last major event for the likes of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Rangana Herath. Sri Lanka’s batting is heavily reliant on Angelo, Dinesh Chandimal and Dilshan and they will hope players like Milinda Siriwardana, who have shown sparks of brilliance in the past come good at a more consistent level.

The Asia Cup will show if Sri Lanka have picked themselves up from the loss to India. Sri Lanka have always been tough contenders in the shortest format of the game but this is a young side lacking in experience. So it remains to be seen where they stand vis-a-vis their subcontinental rivals.

#2 Do Pakistans bowlers have the same venom of old?

Wahab Riaz will spearhead the Pakistan pace attack

Pakistan players might have benefited from the PSL which has helped in identifying the right players for the squad. Under Shahid Afridi, Pakistan will be a mercurial contender playing their own unique brand of exotic, explosive cricket. The big question though is, if Pakistan is the same powerhouse in the T20 world as it used to be.

That depends largely on their bowling line-up, their traditional strength. While all eyes will once again be on Mohammad Amir, the Prodigal Son who has returned back, one shouldn’t ignore the real game-changers – Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami.

The pace bowling battery looks fiery but minus a world-class spinner, Pakistan look suspect. They have quite a few veterans like Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, both off-break bowlers, along with youngsters like Imad Wasim, who bowls slow left-arm orthodox. However, Shahid Afridi would be the only recognised spinner and his overs will be vital.

The Asia Cup will be a good place to see if Pakistan’s bowling is capable of backing its batsman even as the team certainly looks dangerous. Will they miss someone like Saeed Ajmal is the million dollar question.

#1 Are India really the favourites?

India whitewashed Australia in their own den

India is currently the No.1 ranked side in T20, having whitewashed Australia in their own den 3-0. That is certainly a great result for the World Cup hosts who go in as favourites, both for Asia Cup as well as the World T20.

It adds to their aura that they came from behind to win the T20 series against Sri Lanka 2-1 opening up a 3-point lead at the top ahead of South Africa, the No.2 ranked team.

However, the Asia Cup will further test the mettle of the Indian team which will face off against arch-rivals Pakistan and Bangladesh, the team that defeated them in an ODI bilateral series 2-1 last year. India has a minimum of four matches, starting against the hosts Bangladesh, on the inaugural day of the main tournament (Qualifiers have already been completed).

They have a settled squad and may have finally figured out the bowling combination that works for them. Performance in the Asia Cup will be a good indicator as to whether the No.1 ranked T20 team is really on top of its mark before entering into the big event.

For the sake of the tournament itself, this could be a massive question given it will affect the TRPs. India will also love to test its pace bowling attack on sub-continental pitches suited for spin and batting.