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When there are tournaments just before a mega tournament like the ICC World T20 in March, these tournaments lose their significance because all the attention is focussed on the grand event. But the Asia Cup before the T20 World Cup is extremely important for the teams as well as some of the players.There are players who are coming back after a long lay-off due to injuries while there are other players who are not in the best of forms and want to prove a point before the World Cup. For all these players, Asia Cup holds a lot of importance.So let’s have a look at 5 players for whom Asia Cup is very important ahead of World T20.
#5 Niroshan Dickwella
Niroshan Dickwella finds himself in a strange dilemma. He has received an opportunity to represent his country in the T20 World Cup but the opportunity has come at the cost of almost no prior experience before the World Cup.
Kusal Perera’s failed dope test has given him a big opportunity but he will look keenly towards the Asia Cup to get some match practice under his belt.
It is a certainty that Dickwella will partner Dilshan as the opening partner in the Asia Cup and he should also keep wickets in the tournament. It will be crucial for him to score some runs before the World Cup so that he is not overawed by the big stage.
It is also crucial for him to perform in the Asia Cup so that his captain trusts him in crunch situations in the World Cup and gives him a longer rope in the coveted tournament.
#4 Hardik Pandya
For all the promise that Hardik Pandya has shown in the limited games that he has played, the fact remains that he still has a lot to prove in international cricket. His bowling still doesn’t instill confidence in the captain and his batting remains in untested waters.
Asia Cup will be a good opportunity for Pandya to get some overs under his belt as well as fine-tune his batting especially his hitting skills. Pandya is vital for India’s campaign as he provides Indian team the much-needed balance.
India might want to have a look at Pawan Negi if Pandya struggles to live up to the captain’s expectations in the Asia Cup, and thus, the Asian tournament becomes all the more important for India’s promising young all-rounder.
A good Asia Cup will also give him the buffer of a couple of bad matches in the World Cup.
#3 Mohammad Amir
Once the poster boy of Pakistan cricket, Amir is now one of the most controversial sportsmen in the country. The tall and lanky fast bowler can thwart any opposition with his bowling and even though he hasn’t still reached his peak form, he is still a crucial part of the Pakistani team.
Asia Cup will be an ideal opportunity for Amir to gain some international match practice and a match-winning performance in the competition will give him the much-needed confidence for the World Cup.
Asia Cup is important for Amir so that the selectors and captain trust him to deliver during the crucial stages of the World Cup. Imagine a situation when Amir succeeds in defending 9 runs in a crucial World Cup match. It will be a vantage point for him and to get a chance at that redemption, he needs to deliver in the Asia Cup.
#2 Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga remains one of the best T20 bowlers of all time. His outswingers, slower balls and yorkers are a lethal combination for any batsman in the world. Although, Malinga has, in recent years, struggled a lot with injuries which have reduced his pace considerably and his yorkers have also become a little less lethal.
Malinga is also the captain of Sri Lanka’s T20 team and the Asia Cup will be important for him to get his form back with the ball as well as find the right combinations for his team. Asia Cup will give him the much-needed match practice before the marquee event.
It seems quite obvious that Sri Lanka will be a complete team only if Malinga finds his mojo with the ball and Asia Cup seems an ideal competition for him to achieve the same. It will be great for the fans to see Malinga in full flow in the World Cup.
#1 Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh is arguably one of the biggest match winners that India has produced in the limited overs format. He is somebody who is capable of winning matches on his own and will remain a crucial part of India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
One thing that the Indian team management will have on their minds is to give Yuvraj Singh some game time before the World Cup. Though Indian team has been in red hot form in the T20 matches they have played in recent times, the top order hasn’t allowed Yuvraj the much-needed game practice.
Yuvraj will be looking forward to the Asia Cup to score some runs and get himself ready for the World Cup. Though it is unlikely, but if Yuvraj fails to score runs in the Asia Cup, Dhoni might look at giving Rahane a go in the team. So, the Asia Cup becomes all the more important for Yuvraj.
