Cricket
Australia beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets in 1st ODI
Cameron Green claimed his maiden five-wicket haul before David Warner and Steve Smith made light work of the run chase to set up a five-wicket victory for Australia over Zimbabwe in the first ond-day match of a three-match series, the African nation's first one-day international series in the country since 2004.
After Zimbabwe were sent in by Australian skipper Aaron Finch on Sunday, Green, took 5-33 as the tourists lost its last six wickets for 15 runs and was bowled out for 200 in the tropical north Queensland city of Townsville.
Australia then made light work of the run chase, as Warner scored 57 off 66 balls and Steve Smith played the anchor role of the innings to make an unbeaten 48 off 80 balls to set up the victory. Glenn Maxwell finished the match with consecutive sixes off Richard Ngarava in the 34th over.
Green, who had only one ODI wicket prior to Sunday's match, removed Sikander Raza and stand-in skipper Regis Chakabva cheaply and then returned to clean up the tail as Zimbabwe's hopes of posting a defendable total fell away in the final overs.
Also read: Asia Cup: Afghanistan make flying start beating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in opener
”(We) just had a really clear gameplan, got a bit lucky at the end there, was just the right place at the right time trying to bowl back of a length on a wicket that was kind of going up and down," Green said. “I was luckily the one who got the rewards, but I think the rest of the team bowled really well and basically gave me the opportunity to be in that position.”
Wessly Madhevere scored a career-high 72 runs and opener Tadiwanashe Marumani added 45 as Zimbabwe started watchfully against Australia's bowlers.
But, when Adam Zampa got Madhevere caught and bowled and Chakabva was caught by Starc following a Green delivery, Zimbabwe’s tail quickly collapsed chasing quick runs.
Also read: Afif named vice captain of Bangladesh cricket team for Asia Cup
Australia lost Finch for 15 in the eighth over, before Warner and Smith combined for 65-run stand to have Australia's chase looking comfortable.
Alex Carey, Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis all fell cheaply to spinner Ryan Burl (3-60) to stall the hosts' progress but Maxwell blasted 32 off nine deliveries to seal the victory for Australia in their first of 17 ODIs before next year’s World Cup in India..
Zimbabwe is making its first appearance for a one-day international series in the country since 2004 with the teams set to play three ODIs in seven days at the 10,000-seat Riverway Stadium.
The second game of the three-match series is on Wednesday also at Townsville.
The match also held tributes for local hero and former Australia test player Andrew Symonds who died in an auto-accident in May near Townsville.
Fans, players, family and friends stood in silence before the match before further tributes to the charismatic allrounder were held at the innings break.
Afif named vice captain of Bangladesh cricket team for Asia Cup
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named top order batter Afif Hossain as the vice captain of Bangladesh cricket team for the Asia Cup 2022 now underway in the UAE.
The 22-year old left-hander has played 47 T20 internationals for Bangladesh since making his debut in February 2018.
This is the first time when Afif is taking a leadership role in the Bangladesh team. He was among the best players in the world during his U19 cricketing days.
Read:Asia Cup: Afghanistan make flying start beating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in opener
Shakib Al Hasan is set to lead Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. He was handed the captaincy just before the Asia Cup.
During the tour of Zimbabwe, Bangladesh's T20 captain was Nurul Hasan Sohan. Ho suffered an injury on his finger that ruled him out of the Asia Cup too.
Bangladesh’s Asia Cup will begin with the match against Afghanistan on August 30. In the second match, Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka who lost their first match to Afghanistan by eight wickets on the opening day Saturday.
Asia Cup: Afghanistan make flying start beating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in opener
Afghanistan made a flying start in the Asia Cup outplaying five times champions Sri Lanka by eight wickets with 59 balls remaining in the opening match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE on Saturday. After dismissing Islanders Sri Lanka cheaply for 105 runs in 19.4 overs in T20 format, Afghanistan easily reached their target scoring 106 runs for loss of two wickets in 10.1 overs.Replying to Lankan poor total, Afghanistan made a flying start scoring 85 runs in 6.1 overs in the opening stand, before the departure of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who quick-fired 40 runs off 18 balls, featuring three fours and four sixesAnother opener Hazaratullah Zazai contributed an unbeaten 28-ball 37 runs hitting five fours and one six, one down Ibrahim Zardan scored 13-ball 15 runs with the help of two boundaries while number four Najibullah Zardan remained not out on run a ball 2.
Read: Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Group B Match 1 previewHasaranga De Silva took one wicket conceding 19 runs in three overs. Sent in to bat first earlier, Sri Lanka faced initial batting collapse losing three wickets ---Kusal Mendis (2), Charith Asalanka (0) and Pathum Nissanka (3)-- for just five runs in two overs. Later, number four Danushka Gunathilaka pairing with Bhanuka Rajapaksa tried their best to repair their early damage, contributing 44 runs in the 4th wicket stand. Number five batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored the team highest 38 runs of just 29 balls hitting five fours and one six while two down Danushka Gunathilaka made run a ball 17 featuring three boundaries. After the dismissal of four wickets for 49 runs in 7.2 overs, no Sri Lankan middle order and lower order batters were able to reach the double figure score, except number eight batter Chamika Karunaratne, who scored 31 runs off 38 balls with three fours and one six.Fazalhaq Farooqi was the most successful Afghan bowler grabbing three wickets for just 11 runs in his 3.4 over spell and was adjudged the man of the match.Besides, Afghan captain Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabbed two wickets each while Naveen Ul Haq took one wicket.
Asia Cup Cricket: Sri Lanka dismissed cheaply for 105 by Afghanistan
Five times champions Sri Lanka were bundled out cheaply for 105 runs in 19.4 overs against Afghanistan in the opening match of the Asia Cup Cricket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE on Saturday. Sent into bat first, Sri Lanka faced initial batting collapse losing three wickets ---Kusal Mendis (2), Charith Asalanka (0) and Pathum Nissanka (3)-- for just five runs in two overs. Later, number four Danushka Gunathilaka pairing with Bhanuka Rajapaksa tried their best to repair their early damage, contributing 44 runs in the 4th wicket stand. Number five batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored the team highest 38 runs of just 29 balls hitting five fours and one six while two down Danushka Gunathilaka made run a ball 17 featuring three boundaries.
Read: Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Group B Match 1 preview
After the dismissal of four wickets for 49 runs in 7.2 overs, no Sri Lankan middle order and lower order batters were able to reach the double figure score, except number eight batter Chamika Karunaratne, who scored 31 runs off 38 balls with three fours and one six.Fazalhaq Farooqi grabbed three wickets for just 11 runs in his 3.4 over spell, captain Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabbed two wickets each while Naveen Ul Haq took one wicket.
Asia Cup 2022: India vs Pakistan Group A Match preview
The highly anticipated Group A match between India and Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2022 will take place on August 28 (Monday) in Dubai. The Pakistan team can draw motivation from their resounding victory over India in their most recent meeting at the Dubai T20 World Cup 2021. However, the Indian team should be confident going into the game since the Pakistan team is wary about injuries. India vs Pakistan group stage match preview in 2022 Asia Cup Cricket tournament is discussed in this article.
Where will the India vs Pakistan cricket game be contested?
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host the India vs Pakistan match on Sunday (August 28). The match will start at 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Pakistan and India only met once at the Dubai cricket stadium, where Pakistan thumped India by 10 wickets.
Overall, India’s men’s T20 team has played four matches at this venue and has two wins and two losses. In contrast, the Pakistan men’s side has plenty of experience playing at the ground. They have participated in 28 Twenty20 international matches; of them they have won 16 and lost 11.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Group B Match 1 preview
However, the Indian players are well acquainted with the conditions as the franchise-based T20 league, IPL, is often staged in the UAE. Who will triumph in the match on Sunday?
Who hold the edge in the head-to-head T20 contest between India and Pakistan?
India have dominated the head-to-head battle against Pakistan in the Twenty20 format. The Indian side has won six matches out of nine. Both sides have met each other in the shortest format of the game. On the other hand, Pakistan have won two and one ended in a tie. Here are some of the notable stats between the two sides.
Noteworthy T20I stats between Pakistan and India
India
Pakistan
Most Runs
Virat Kohli (311)
Shoaib Malik (164)
Highest Score
Virat Kohli (78*)
Mohammad Rizwan (79*)
Most Sixes
Yuvraj Singh (9)
Misbah-ul-Haq (5), Mohammad Hafeez (5), Shoaib Malik (5)
Most Wickets
Irfan Pathan (6)
Umar Gul (11)
Best Bowling Figure
Hardik Pandya (3/8)
Mohammad Asif (4/18)
Most Dismissals
MS Dhoni (11)
Kamran Akmal (3)
Most Catches
Suresh Raina (7)
Shoaib Malik (4)
Highest Partnership
Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni (97)
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam (152*)
Most Matches
MS Dhoni (8), Rohit Sharma (8), Yuvraj Singh (8)
Shoaib Malik (9)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Asia Cup 2022: Live streaming TV channels, online platforms to watch from Bangladesh
India vs Pakistan: Which players have a good chance of making the playing XI?
The top order in India is among the finest in the world. The team India’s top-order has maintained more than a 30 average since the Twenty20 World Cup 2021 and their 143.94 strike rate is the best among the ICC’s full member teams. India will likely include two of their young pacers—Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh—along with the experienced Bhuvneshwar. Besides, all the expected names will likely be included in the playing XI.
Probable Playing XI (India)
Top-Order: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli,
Middle-Order: Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar,
Lower-Order: Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh
Pakistan’s middle-order has the best strike rate since the 2021 T20 World Cup with 152.18. They are the only team whose middle order has more than 150 strike rates, which is why their batters could be a real concern for the opposition teams in the death overs. The Pakistan team has faced two major blows as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim are both out of the competition due to injuries. Naseem Shah and Hasan Ali have been included in place of them.
Read Asia Cup Cricket 2022: Meet the captains of 6 participating teams
Probable Playing XI (Pakistan)
Top-Order: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Fakar Zaman,
Middle-Order: Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan,
Lower-Order: Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Pakistan vs India Group Stage Match: Pitch report and weather forecast
Although Sunday is expected to be quite hot in Dubai, the relative humidity will remain at or near 35%. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the fielding first team has won the majority of games since 2021. The toss decision could be influenced by this statistic.
Verdict
The India-Pakistan cricket clash always makes the newspaper headlines. The 2022 Asia Cup Group A match between India vs Pakistan, the two bitter rivals this Sunday won't be an exception. Making a competitive playing XI is currently an issue for the injury-afflicted Pakistani team. India will therefore begin as the slight favorite to win their inaugural match of the Asia Cup 2022.
Read Asia Cup Cricket: A look back at Bangladesh’s 5 memorable victories
Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Group B Match 1 preview
The Asia Cup 2022 will kick off with the contest between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan on August 27. Sri Lanka may have a slight advantage in batting with some polished batters in the lineup. Afghanistan, on the other hand, is banking heavily on its bowling strength. This game should be intriguing given that both sides have evenly balanced rosters. The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan first match preview is discussed in this article.
Where will Sri Lanka and Afghanistan play their opening Group B match?
Only two venues in the United Arab Emirates will host the six-nation Asia Cup 2022 tournament. These two venues are: the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah. The inaugural match of the fifteenth edition of the Asia Cup event between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The match will start at 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Head-to-Head T20I records between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan
So far, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have only met once in the T20 format during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 in India. Sri Lanka won that contest at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens by 6 wickets. Here are some notable h2h individual T20 statistics between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Live streaming TV channels, online platforms to watch from Bangladesh
H2H Individual Twenty20 Stats between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Afghanistan
Most Runs
Tillakaratne Dilshan (83)
Asghar Stanikzai (62)
Fifties
Tillakaratne Dilshan (1)
Asghar Stanikzai (1)
Most Sixes
Tillakaratne Dilshan (3)
Asghar Stanikzai (4)
Most Wickets
Thisara Perera (3)
Mohammad Nabi (1), Rashid Khan (1)
Most Catches
Dushmantha Chameera (1), Thisara Perera (1), Lahiru Thirimanne (1)
Samiullah Shinwari (1)
Highest Partnership
Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews (42*)
Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shinwari (61)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Domingo is still the head coach of Tigers:BCB
Group B Match 1 (Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan): Venue Stats
The Asia Cup 2022 opening match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which regularly hosts T20 matches. The teams from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have played at this venue before. Let’s take a look at some of the key stats of the Dubai cricket stadium.
Matches Played (T20I): 75 | Batting First (won): 35 | Fielding First (won): 39 | Highest Individual innings: Martin Guptill (93) | Best Bowling (Innings): Imad Wasim (5/14) | Highest Team Innings: 211 | Lowest Team Innings: 55 | Highest Run Chased: 183/5
Sri Lanka’s T20 record at the DICS: Match: 3 | Win: 1 | Lost: 2
Afghanistan’s T20 record at the DICS: Match: 9 | Win: 6 | Lost: 3
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Group B, Match 1): What would the playing XI look like?
Sri Lanka have some good options available in the batting line up. The Lankan think tank has to come up with the best possible options to make a strong batting order. Multiple sources have claimed that Sri Lanka want to include a left-arm spinner in the playing XI.
Read Asia Cup Cricket 2022: Meet the captains of 6 participating teams
Predicted Playing XI (Sri Lanka)
Top-Order: Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa,
Middle-Order: Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis (wicket-keeper), Dasun Shanaka (captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne,
Lower-Order: Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka
In contrast, the Afghanistan team has a settled batting line-up. The Afghan campaign will be hoping batters show their ability on the battlefield. If the pitch offers more to the slower bowlers, they may incorporate as many as four spinners in the playing XI.
Predicted Playing XI (Afghanistan)
Top-Order: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ibrahim Zadran,
Middle-Order: Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (captain), Samiullah Shinwari, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat,
Lower-Order: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Read Asia Cup Cricket: A look back at Bangladesh’s 5 memorable victories
Pitch report and weather forecast for the first match of Asia Cup 2022
The month of August is usually the hottest month in the UAE. Saturday will be no exception, as the weather forecast suggests that the tournament’s opening day will be sunny and hot in Dubai. The ground usually has sporting pitches where both batters and bowlers can thrive. The team that has fielded first has won twelve out of thirteen matches since 2021. That is why the toss-winning captain may opt to field first here at this venue.
Verdict
The opening match of the Asia Cup 2022 between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan could be a tightly-contested match. Both teams possess a few exciting T20 format cricketers who have the ability to put in match-winning performances during the contest. Since the results of the group phase’s two games will decide the fate of a Super Four berth, the players of both sides may get nervous in the match. Whoever plays with confidence and remains determined to control the matchup will have a better chance to win it.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Group B Preview: Can Bangladesh Reach Super 4 Round?
Asia Cup 2022: Live streaming TV channels, online platforms to watch from Bangladesh
After all the inquisitive qualifying rounds, the very Asia Cup 2022 is going to start. The 15th edition of this big sports event in the Asian continent is going to take place on 27 August 2022. The most exciting thing is that the tournament has been designed in T20 format this time. Like other major Asian countries, Bangladeshi cricket lovers will also get a chance to enjoy every match live. Let's get to know how to watch Asia Cup 2022 live from Bangladesh
Asia Cup 2022 Schedule
The tournament includes 13 matches of 6 teams. The United Arab Emirates as the host country has already decorated its designated venues for each match. Bangladesh vs Afghanistan on 30 August, Pakistan vs Hong Kong on 2 September, and the first match of the Super Four round on 3 September; These three matches will be held in Sharjah. The rest of the matches are designated for Dubai. All the matches will be watched live from Bangladesh at 8 pm. Let’s have a look at the fixture:
August 27 → Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan
August 28 → India vs Pakistan
August 30 → Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
August 31 → India vs Hong Kong
September 1 → Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
September 2 → Pakistan vs Hong Kong
From September 3 to September 9, the four nations, promoted from the group stage to the Super Four, will play a total of 6 matches among themselves. The two teams with the highest scores from here will play against each other in the final on September 11.
Read: Domingo's contract likely to be extended
Where to Watch the Live Streaming of Asia Cup 2022
GTV (Gazi Television) has got the right to broadcast all matches of this sports event in Bangladesh. The matches can also be watched on BTV (Bangladesh Television) National and Channel Nine. India's satellite TV channel Star Sports has got the rights to distribute the broadcast worldwide as an official broadcaster of the Asia Cup. Moreover, foreign channels like T-Sports, Sony Sports, Ten Cricket Video also give the opportunity to watch the shows from Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi Cricket lovers can watch the event for free from any device through Sony Live Bioscope and Toffee apps. Among the digital platforms, Disney Plus Hotstar subscribers can enjoy live streaming for a fixed subscription charge.
The Bangladeshi cricket fans can also watch the Asia Cup 2022 Matches Live from Mobile Phone. The Grameenphone (GP) users can watch the Asia cup cricket matches live streaming via MyGP app.
Bottom Line
Like every time, Asia Cup 2022 is giving thousands of expectations for Bangladeshis. Shakib Al Hasan's army can overcome the sorrow of failure to touch the trophy twice in a row. In addition, the eyes of the entire Asian world will be focused on the fight between the arch-rivals India-Pakistan. All in all, cricket lovers are going to experience a great cricket battle at the beginning of the third quarter of 2022.
Read Asia Cup Cricket 2022: Meet the captains of 6 participating teams
However, it may not be possible for every cricket fan to travel abroad to watch these matches. Don’t worry! So far, we have discussed the online platforms and live streaming TV channels to watch the Asia Cup 2022 matches from Bangladesh. Now, the Bangladeshi cricket enthusiasts can watch the matches from home and get eternal enjoyment.
I’m clear about my role: Sridharan Sriram
The T20 technical consultant of the Bangladesh national cricket team Sridharan Sriram said he is very clear about his role in the Bangladesh team.
Bangladesh has none as the head coach in the T20 squad who are currently in the UAE to take part in this year’s Asia Cup.
Russell Domingo, the regular head coach of Bangladesh, is assigned to work with the Test and ODI teams only. Sridharan has recently been appointed as a technical consultant for the Bangladesh T20 squad till the T20 World Cup.
“I’m very clear about my role here,” he said at a press conference in Dubai, UAE, on Friday. “My role is to get the resources together. There are skill-coaches with the team and the captain and the team director. I will have to work with all of them and get them together.”
Read: Domingo is still the head coach of Tigers: BCB
Sridharan previously worked with at least two IPL teams and with Australia national team. He believes his experience of working with the high-grade T20 teams will stand him in good stead in his new assignment.
He also said it was a fantastic move from BCB to appoint Shakib Al Hasan as the captain of the Bangladesh T20 team.
“My work will be to bring all the three components together and use my T20 experience of IPL and Australia and bring a strategy where we can use our resources properly,” Sridharan added.
Sridharan is the first Indian in many years who got a high role in the Bangladesh team. He is expected to deliver a better result than the other coaches of the Bangladesh team as he has a better understanding of the players and their culture of cricket.
Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan in their first Asia Cup match on August 30, and in their second and last group stage match, they will lock horns with Sri Lanka on September 1.
Domingo is still the head coach of Tigers:BCB
After a few chaotic hours of speculated resignation of the head coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team, Russel Domingo, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that he is very much on the job.
Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, the chief executive officer of BCB, said they didn't get any resignation letter from Domingo and don’t believe that he has quit the post.
BCB’s response came after a Bengali-language daily in Dhaka reported that Domingo , speaking from his home in South Africa, confirmed he would no longer work for BCB. Domingo is now on leave.
“We think there is a misunderstanding between the newspaper and Domingo,” Nizam Uddin told the media on Thursday. “Domingo was recently presented in a press conference in Bangladesh where the BCB president said that Domingo is still our head coach and he will continue working for us.”
In a rare move Bangladesh has sent the national team to play the Asia Cup in the UAE without a head coach. Instead of Domingo, Bangladesh added Sridharan Sriram to the team— not as a head coach, but as a T20 technical consultant.
BCB has confirmed that Sridharan, a former Indian player, will continue in the role till the T20 World Cup later this year. The board has also confirmed that Domingo will work as the head coach of the Bangladesh team in Tests and ODIs only.
Read: Domingo's contract likely to be extended
“The way media reported was not completely right,” Nizam said. “There was a misunderstanding and Domingo is embarrassed for it. He is expected to join his job soon and he is expected to tour the UAE with the Bangladesh A team soon.”
Meanwhile, Sridharan will call the shots of Bangladesh team during the Asia Cup. BCB chief Nazmul Hasan and director Jalal Yunus will also stay with the team in the UAE during this event along with the other coaching staff.
Asia Cup Cricket 2022: Meet the captains of 6 participating teams
In cricket, captaincy is of great importance, in contrast to most other sports. A cricket captain has a strong say in selecting the playing XI, preparing the game plan, and leading the team onto the field. The team's ability to perform in a game is heavily influenced by the captain's leadership qualities and decision-making abilities, both on and off the field. Let's get to know the six captains of the participating teams for the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 as well as their overall records.
Meet the six captains of the 2022 Asia Cup
The qualifier winner, Hong Kong, will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to take part in the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 main event. The Hong Kong men’s national T20 team confirmed their participation after winning all three matches in the qualifier competition in Oman. As the fifteenth edition of the Asia Cup is all set to begin on August 27, let’s take a look at the stats of each captain.
Rohit Sharma (India)
Rohit’s T20I stats:
M: 132 | Runs: 3,487 | HS: 118 | Ave: 32.28 | SR: 140.26 | 100s: 4
Rohit’s T20I performance as captain:
M: 35 | Runs: 1,161 | HS: 118 | Ave: 36.28 | SR: 153.77 | 100s: 2
India have yet to lose a Twenty20 International series after Rohit Sharma was appointed as permanent captain earlier this year. The fact that India's T20 team has won eleven games and only lost two since February 2022 shows how effective Rohit is as a captain.
Read Asia Cup Cricket: A look back at Bangladesh’s 5 memorable victories
He is a very calm and composed leader and has a clear vision of what he wants from his players. Rohit’s individual performance as a captain has been excellent as well. He has a two-century and more than 150 strike rate as captain of the Indian national men’s T20 side. For captain Rohit, anything less than the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 trophy would be considered a failure.
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Babar’s T20I stats:
M: 74 | Runs: 2,686 | HS: 122 | Ave: 45.52 | SR: 129.44 | 100s: 1
Babar’s T20I performance as captain:
M: 41 | Runs: 1,396 | HS: 122 | Ave: 42.30 | SR: 132.19 | 100s: 1
Babar Azam has an introverted personality, which is an unpopular trait for a captain. However, Babar has improved his leadership capabilities over the years. Under his leadership, the Pakistan team has shown consistency on the international stage.
Read Asia Cup Qualifier 2022: Which team is the favourite to qualify?
Another crucial point is that Babar Azam's play has not been impacted by the additional burden of leadership. He seems to take pleasure in leading the team. Pakistan is the only team that can truly challenge hot favourite India in the coming tournament.
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka)
Shanaka’s T20I stats:
M: 68 | Runs: 1,015 | HS: 74* | Ave: 20.71 | SR: 132.19 | 50s: 4 | Wkts: 18 | BBI: 3/16 | Ave: 24.00 | Econ: 7.85
Shanaka’s T20I performance as captain:
M: 28 | Runs: 523 | HS: 74* | Ave: 30.76 | SR: 126.94 | 50s: 2 | Wkts: 7 | BBI: 2/20 | Ave: 29.28 | Econ: 8.25
The Lankan Cricket Board is convinced that Shanaka has the capability to lead the team. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka’s young T20 side has seen considerable development. Sri Lanka's team has demonstrated its capability to beat strong teams by defeating Australia twice in the T20 format this year.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Group B Preview: Can Bangladesh Reach Super 4 Round?
They must now continue to remain consistent to become a formidable T20 opponent. Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka's captain, is also a standout performer in the T20 format. Shanaka’s all-round contribution, particularly his power-hitting ability, would be vital for the Lankan side in the Asia Cup.
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib’s T20I stats:
M: 99 | Runs: 2,010 | HS: 84 | Ave: 23.10 | SR: 120.86 | 50s: 10 | Wkts: 121 | BBI: 5/20 | Ave: 19.95 | Econ: 6.69
Shakib’s T20I performance as captain:
M: 21 | Runs: 454 | HS: 70* | Ave: 23.89 | SR: 130.08 | 50s: 3 | Wkts: 27 | BBI: 5/20 | Ave: 19.07 | Econ: 6.68
Shakib Al Hasan's selection as T20 skipper by the Bangladesh Cricket Board might be a huge success. Shakib is the most versatile player in Bangladesh at the moment and has plenty of experience in the T20 format of cricket. He is also regarded as one of the smartest cricket players in the world and appears to have an answer for almost everything, particularly on the cricket field.
Read Asia Cup Cricket: India holds historical edge over Pakistan
Shakib's individual performance is unaffected while serving as captain, which is another plus. The Bangladesh campaign is expecting Shakib to lead the team to at least the Super Four phase of the fifteenth edition of the Asia Cup.
Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
Nabi’s T20I stats:
M: 96 | Runs: 1,653 | HS: 89 | Ave: 22.64 | SR: 141.52 | 50s: 4 | Wkts: 80 | BBI: 4/10 | Ave: 27.52 | Econ: 7.29
Nabi’s T20I performance as captain:
M: 27 | Runs: 389 | HS: 46 | Ave: 20.47 | SR: 118.96 | 50s: 0 | Wkts: 17 | BBI: 2/12 | Ave: 30.11 | Econ: 6.82
The most seasoned cricketer on the current Afghanistan T20 team is Mohammad Nabi. He is the ideal candidate to lead the Afghan team because of his experience and seniority. Nabi has a respectable T20 captaincy track record.
Read Asia Cup 2022: 12 Key Players to Watch in the Tournament
However, he hasn't led his team to victory against a classic heavyweight opponent. The main objective of this seasoned Afghan all-rounder will be to motivate his side to defeat Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the group stage in order to advance to the Super Four.
Nizakat Khan (Hong Kong)
Nizakat’s T20I stats:
M: 51 | Runs: 978 | HS: 81 | Ave: 19.95 | SR: 122.24 | 50s: 5
Nizakat’s T20I performance as captain:
M: 8 | Runs: 249 | HS: 81 | Ave: 31.12 | SR: 114.74 | 50s: 3
Nizakat Khan is a Pakistani-born Hong Kong cricketer. He is a right-hand top-order batter and a part-time leg-spin bowler. Nizakat was appointed as captain of the national T20 team in May this year. Under his leadership, Hong Kong came out with victories in all three matches of the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 Qualifier competition.
Read Shakib Al Hasan: Expectations from Bangladesh’s T20 captain in Asia Cup 2022
Hong Kong will be taking part in the Asia Cup competition for the fourth time. For the Hong Kong players, competing against Pakistan and India will be a terrific learning opportunity. It would be impossible to anticipate anything big from the Nizakat-led Hong Kong team in the forthcoming competition since they lack the experience to compete against strong opposition.
Who has a better captaincy record?
The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, has the best captaincy record as per the statistics. He has a better winning percentage than others and, most importantly, the majority of his wins have come against stronger opponents. The Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, has the second-best winning percentage with 72.22. Babar also has a fantastic captaincy record against stronger opponents.
Both the India and Pakistan campaigns are expected to display strong performances in the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam, respectively.
Read Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
Hong Kong’s Nizakat Khan and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi have more than fifty percent winning records each. However, Nizakat has led only eight matches for the national side and has yet to captain against any of the ICC’s full member teams.
The upcoming Asia Cup, therefore, will be a tough challenge for Nizakat and Hong Kong as they will face two Asian heavyweights, India and Pakistan, in the group stage. On the other hand, Mohammad Nabi’s most victories as captain have come against associate nations.
Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan have less than fifty percent winning records as captains. Shakib’s 33.33 percent winning percentage is a surprising stat. The ace all-rounder is the fourth most successful captain for Bangladesh in the Twenty20 format (those who have captained at least 10 matches).
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
Shakib will surely aim to improve his T20I captaincy record in the forthcoming tournament. Lankan skipper Shanaka has done well with a relatively inexperienced squad. Sri Lanka’s overall team performance has improved in recent series.
All Asia Cup 2022 captains' T20I captaincy records (as on August 25, 2022)
Player
Match
Won
Lost
Winning Percentage (%)
Rohit Sharma
35
29
6
82.85
Babar Azam
41
26
10
72.22
Dasun Shanaka
28
12
15
44.64
Shakib Al Hasan
21
7
14
33.33
Mohammad Nabi
27
14
13
51.85
Nizakat Khan
8
5
3
62.50
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Aftermath
A captain may have a huge influence and play an important role in cricket. However, winning consistency also depends on the strength of a particular squad. Therefore, judging a captain only by looking at the stats is an unjust perspective. India and Pakistan are the only two teams that will start the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 campaign as favourites. They have the best squads and two of the most composed captains in the tournament.
Shakib Al Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, and Mohammad Nabi will lead relatively similar strong sides. Therefore, these captains of participating teams in the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 have a point to prove: who has the best credibility as a leader? Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan will play in Group B, so advancing to the Super Four round will be their main objective.
Any of the three teams will have a decent chance of making it to the championship game if they find the proper momentum at the right time. Furthermore, the Nizakat Khan-led Hong Kong team has virtually no chance against Pakistan and India. They lack the quality players to compete with two of Asia's cricketing powerhouses.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues