Tamim Iqbal v Jasprit Bumrah and the key battles that could decide 2016 Asia Cup final

Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal could play a vital role in his team's hopes of winning the 2016 Asia Cup. Hannah Peters / Getty Images

ASIA CUP FINAL

Bangladesh v India

5.30pm UAE time

Ahead of the 2016 Asia Cup final between Bangladesh and India, Paul Radley looks at the key match-ups that could decide the fate of the title.

TAMIM IQBAL v JASPRIT BUMRAH

This Asia Cup has bucked the trend of recent international T20 cricket in that conditions have heavily favoured the bowlers.

Those taking the new ball, in particular, have revelled in the amount of movement they have found in the air and off the pitch.

It might have been a good one for opening batsmen to skip. Tamim Iqbal tried his best, originally opting out because it clashed with his wife’s due date.

She delivered a boy at the start, Bangladesh suffered an injury, Tamim was recalled and now his role will be vital in blunting the threat of in-form Jasprit Bumrah.

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AL AMIN HOSSAIN v ROHIT SHARMA

More or less as above. Chandika Hathurusinghe, the Sri Lankan coach in charge of Bangladesh, has overseen the rise of a battery of four quality quick bowlers.

They have suffered the loss of arguably the most effective, Mustafizur Rahman, to injury, but they still have enough firepower to cover for that.

Al Amin Hossain is the leading wicket taker in the tournament, taking out the extra games played during the qualifying round.

Rohit Sharma was the match-winner when the sides met in the opening game. The pressure will be on Hossain to get him early.

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MAHMUDULLAH v INDIA’S DEATH BOWLERS

Mahmudullah has already exorcised one ghost during this Asia Cup. Hitting the winning runs in the decisive pool match against Pakistan went some way to erasing the memory of the 2012 final against the same team.

Back then, he was the senior batsman who failed to deliver the nine runs needed off the final over to give Bangladesh their first Asia Cup title.

There were no prizes given out for beating Pakistan this time, though. If he can do the same against India this evening, he will confirm his status as a national hero.

Table

1 India 4 4 0 8

2 Bangladesh 4 3 1 6

3 Pakistan 4 2 2 4

4 Sri Lanka 4 1 3 2

5 UAE 4 0 4 0

Most runs (includes qualifying round)

1 Babar Hayat (Hong Kong) 3 matches, 194 runs

2 Mohammed Usman (UAE) 7, 176

3 Shaiman Anwar (UAE) 7, 151

4 Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka) 4, 149

5 Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh) 4, 144

Most wickets (includes qualifying round)

1 Amjad Javed (UAE) 7, 12

2 Mohammed Naveed (UAE) 7, 11

3 Al Amin Hossain (Bangladesh) 4, 10

4= Hardik Pandya (India) 4, 7

4= Mohammed Amir (Pakistan) 4, 7

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