Bittersweet run-up to Asia Cup cricket

Key absences, such as that of MS Dhoni, the ascent of Virat Kohli and a public spat over selection of Bangladesh side have dominated the news ahead of Tuesday's first Asia Cup match, writes Osman Samiuddin.

Pakistan, the defending champions, take on Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup opener on Tuesday. AM Ahad / AP Photo

The 12th Asia Cup gets underway on Tuesday at Fatullah in Bangladesh, as defending champions Pakistan take on Sri Lanka. India and the hosts play on Wednesday, though for most neutrals, eyes will naturally veer towards Afghanistan, who have been invited to take part in the tournament for the first time.

Cricket’s unceasing schedule means that a few star names will be absent, since the World Twenty20 starts in the same country days after this ends, followed soon thereafter by the Indian Premier League. Most notably, India will be without MS Dhoni, one of the format’s best batsmen and most successful captains.

Personal test for Kohli

India have suffered abysmal defeats in South Africa and New Zealand, but under the stand-in Virat Kohli, and on more favourable surfaces, will be expected to make the final on March 8 in Mirpur.

“I have only been captain for about eight games until now,” Kohli said. “It went pretty good, but this is a big tournament. It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to. We have got a young group of guys and some exciting players.

“I think that excites me to have a group that I can have a chat with and be on the same page. It’s important to have an understanding.”

Bangladesh captain angry

The hosts will be without Tamim Iqbal. The opener could have played, but with the World Twenty20 in mind, selectors decided to rest him. But their preparations have been hampered by a public airing of differences between the captain Mushfiqur Rahim and new chief selector Faruque Ahmed.

Rahim said on Sunday that he was “shocked” to not have been consulted by the selection committee over the composition of the 15-man squad that was eventually picked.

“It is not a subject that I am happy about,” Mushfiqur said. “It is the selectors’ duty to pick the 15-man squad. But I am unhappy that the selectors didn’t consult me before making the team. In that sense, I am shocked. I wasn’t aware of the inclusions and the exclusions.”

In all this, Pakistan arrive the most settled. They are fit and present and, as it happens, in some form as well.

Toward the end of last year, they won successive series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. The former, in South Africa, was their most impressive result of the year.

“The team is in good shape,” captain Misbah-ul-Haq said.

“Cricket is a confidence game and we have been playing well in the last three-four months. We have to do our basics right to have a good chance.”

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