Ahead of the season, we look at the narratives surrounding selected Indian batters, both seniors and rookies

KL Rahul

Rohit Sharma

Virat Kohli

Tilak Varma

Venkatesh Iyer

Ishan Kishan

Riyan Parag

Indian Premier League, 2023

Does the OG Rahul still exist? And how long will Rohit get a pass?

This has been his year so far, but that doesn’t mean he can’t challenge himself for the betterment of Gujarat Titans

Shubman Gill

Gujarat Titans

India

Powerplay remains the only thorn in superstar Gill's resume

Even without Rishabh Pant, Delhi Capitals have the firepower but need to figure out the right balance in the XI

David Warner

Mitchell Marsh

Anrich Nortje

Rovman Powell

Sarfaraz Khan

Abishek Porel

Rishabh Pant

Rilee Rossouw

Lalit Yadav

Prithvi Shaw

Axar Patel

Khaleel Ahmed

Lungi Ngidi

Mustafizur Rahman

Delhi Capitals

IPL 2023 Preview: Delhi Capitals hunt for right tactics to cover Pant-sized loss

Usually Punjab fall apart as the season progresses, but this time around they’re in tatters before a single ball bowled

Shikhar Dhawan

Sam Curran

Liam Livingstone

Arshdeep Singh

Kagiso Rabada

Punjab Kings

IPL 2023 preview: Can Punjab get out of the tox6ic relationship?


A 200+ total has been posted in Bengaluru every 4.8 innings in IPL since 2016

Sixes galore in Bengaluru; Jaipur a venue for the fittest & more venue traits 

Will the young wicketkeeper slot right into the XI as a like-for-like replacement for Pant?

Bengal

Who is Abishek Porel - Rishabh Pant's replacement at Delhi Capitals?

Sri Lanka endured a day to forget as Afghanistan&#39;s new ball bowlers, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq, wreaked havoc to reduce the hosts to five for three in the first two overs of the innings.&nbsp;Sri Lanka never really seemed to have recovered from the early jitters and were bundled out for mere 105 runs after being asked to bat first.&nbsp;In the post-match presentation, Dasun Shanaka, the skipper of the Sri Lankan side, raised concerns over the preparation of the batters ahead of this mega-event.&quot;We have to ask our batters whether they were prepared. We know that Farooqi swings the ball both ways. Naveen-ul-Haq also swings it most of the time. It&#39;s not like in our conditions. We have to ask that question of whether we were ready for them,&quot; he said in the post-match press conference, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.&nbsp;&quot;It was a really good pitch. It was the first two overs that changed the whole situation. Three wickets in the first two overs never really allowed us to come back. It&#39;s been a concern over the past two years that we have not had partnerships upfront,&quot; he further added.&nbsp;The all-rounder also heaped praises on the opening combination of Afghanistan as Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz laid a solid foundation for Afghanistan with an 83-run stand in the first six overs.&nbsp;&quot;They know the conditions very well, and they have been playing here since they started. They have world-class spinners, so if their batsmen come good in the tournament, they have a really good tournament, they have a very good chance to make it into the finals,&quot; Shanaka said.&nbsp;Sri Lanka now face Bangladesh in their next league game on Thursday, September 1, in Dubai.&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Sri Lanka were bundled out for 105 runs in the inaugural match of the Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai 

Dasun Shanaka

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Hazratullah Zazai

Fazalhaq Farooqi

Naveen-ul-Haq

Asia Cup, 2022

Sri Lanka

Afghanistan

Shanaka questions batters' preparation after thumping defeat against Afghanistan

Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi returned bowling figures of 3 for 11 to help Afghanistan thrash Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the opening match of the Asia Cup T20 tournament on Saturday (August 27).Afghanistan elected to field and bundled out Sri Lanka for a paltry 105, a total their batsmen overhauled in 10.1 overs in Dubai.Left-hander Hazratullah Zazai, unbeaten on 37, and wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanllah Gurbaz, who hit 40, put on 83 runs for the opening wicket to build on the dominance started by the bowlers.Afghanistan, in Group B with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have made a thumping start to their campaign in the six-nation tournament that acts as a tune-up to the T20 World Cup in October-November in Australia.Farooqi, a left-arm quick, stood out for Afghanistan after he struck with successive deliveries in the first over of the innings to send Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka trudging back to the pavilion for two and nought.Naveen-ul-Haq then sent back Pathum Nissanka caught behind after the batsman reviewed the on-field call and the third-umpire upheld the decision despite no visible spike on the ultra-edge, leaving the batsman and dressing room stunned.At that point, Sri Lanka were struggling with just five runs on the board and three wickets down in the opening two overs.Danushka Gunathilaka (17) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (38) attempted to hit back with a flurry of boundaries in a 20-run sixth over before spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman broke the 44-run stand. Wickets kept tumbling with the 13th over providing two run-outs, including the end of Rajapaksa while attempting a second run.Chamika Karunaratne made 31 to take the team total past 100 before being bowled by Farooqi. Afghanistan openers came out all guns blazing as Gurbaz smashed three fours and four sixes in his 18-ball blitz before falling to leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.Zazai kept up the attack with Ibrahim Zadran, who made 15 before being run out, to bring alive the Afghan supporters and silence the Sri Lankan crowd.India meet Pakistan in a hotly-anticipated Group A clash on Sunday (August 28) at the same venue.Brief scores:Sri Lanka 105 in 19.4 overs (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 38, Chamika Karunaratne 31; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3 for 11) lost to Afghanistan 106 for 2 in 10.1 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 40, Hazratullah Zazai 37*; Wanindu Hasaranga 1 for 19) by 8 wickets.Player of the match: Fazalhaq FarooqiPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The pacer finished with figures of 3 for 11 to help restrict Sri Lanka to a paltry 105

Farooqi leads Afghanistan to massive win over Sri Lanka in Asia Cup opener

Afghanistan dismantle shambolic Sri Lanka in Asia Cup opener

The Asia Cup 2022, the six-nation continental show-piece event, will begin in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday after being moved from Sri Lanka because of political unrest. Sri Lanka will take on Afghanistan in the tournament opener, which will serve as a tune-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November.Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka, on Friday, said that victory in the Asia Cup would lift the spirits of fans in the cricket-crazy island nation as it struggles through its worst economic crisis. Sri Lanka has been hit in recent months by food and fuel shortages along with power blackouts, but enjoyed success in a home series in June when they beat Australia in one-day internationals.&quot;Cricket always brings a different kind of vibe to Sri Lankan people, winning is the most thrilling thing,&quot; Shanaka told reporters. &quot;So we look forward to delivering for our country.&quot;They also drew level in Tests with Australia and Pakistan. Shanaka said playing at home would have been a definite advantage but added that there are no favourites in the T20 format.&quot;Hosting this tournament in Sri Lanka would have favoured us more because the crowd support is there and playing in home conditions has a bigger advantage. When it comes to the favourites, India is a leading side at the moment but in T20 there are no favourites. On a day if we play good cricket, we can be the favourites as well.Sri Lanka may play spoilers to a predicted India-Pakistan clash in the final of the tournament. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga remained key for the side in the white-ball series against Australia at home and Shanaka said the team would rely on the all-rounder in the UAE.&quot;Our main spinner Wanindu Hasaranga will definitely play a major role in this tour for us. We have played some good series in the last two-three months. What I trust the most is the process, so we are on the right track and hopefully we can clean the series here as well.&quot;Afghanistan, who come fresh from their white-ball sweep of Zimbabwe, have always run team&#39;s hard in international competitions and created a few upsets as well but skipper Mohammad Nabi wants more consistency from his team.&quot;We have run out of steam in close games and this is what we thought about before coming here and God willing will try not to repeat our mistakes. We came a week earlier for the Asia Cup to acclimatise and we will have a better tournament this time and try and move in the Super 4 stage.&quot;Nabi insisted his team is not just about a few superstars such as Rashid Khan but is instead an all-performing unit. Bangladesh is the third team in Group B. India, Pakistan and Hong Kong are clubbed in Group A.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Shanaka said playing at home would have been a definite advantage but added that there are no favourites in the T20 format

Mohammad Nabi

Shanaka looks to lift Sri Lankan morale with Asia Cup title

The Asia Cup 2022 is finally here. After multiple false starts and pandemic-induced delays, the 2022 edition of the continental showpiece event will get underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on August 27 (Saturday) with official hosts Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan in the tournament opener.Sri Lanka may not have won a T20I series in the last 12 months but as seen in the series against Australia and their developments in the recent games, things can change pretty fast if they decide to get their acts together. Their captain Dasun Shanka has led from the front with valiant batting displays but what often gets overlooked is that they have the firepower in the middle-order to get things to an even base.Meanwhile, Afghanistan have the likes of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in their ranks and are certain to create a dent with Dubai being projected to assist spin bowling heavily. We have a game in our hands and that&rsquo;s surely not going to be anything less than a humdinger.Ground detailsDubai has become the hotbed of T20 cricket lately. Since January 2020, Dubai has hosted 85 T20 matches with bowlers picking wickets at an average of 23.9. An economy rate of 7.8 tells you that scoring runs hasn&rsquo;t been an easy affair here but things will be a little bit easier in the first half of the event. A further validation of that fact comes from the understanding that the average first innings score here is a paltry 156 in the aforementioned period, hence it is always better to have better bowling resources at your disposal.&nbsp;Since Jan 2020, pacers have had an economy rate of 8.1 whereas spinners have conceded runs at an economy rate of 7. Spinners have bowled 41.8 % of the total overs bowled here and have 39.5% of the wickets to their name as well. Hence, one can deduce that having a balanced XI can earn you the maximum points.Suggested Team<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661575441757-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from <a href="https://www.cricket.com/fantasy-research-center" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cricket.com&rsquo;s Fantasy Research Centre</a>. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.Captaincy suggestionsFor Small Leagues : Charith Asalanka (Captain), Wanindu Hasaranga (Vice Captain)For Grand Leagues : Rashid Khan (Captain), Wanindu Hasaranga (Vice Captain)Stats that matter- Among Test playing nations, Sri Lanka have the second lowest batting average in T20Is since 2021 - 19.99.&nbsp;- The first six overs of the Sri Lankan innings could be the key phase of the game. Sri Lanka holds the second lowest run-rate (6.6) and average (22.7) in the powerplay since 2021.- Both sides have maintained an economy of under 7 per over with their spinners in T20s since 2021. Afghanistan have picked wickets at 19.4 runs apiece while Sri Lanka at 22.1. With the amount of spin they bowl, these are excellent numbers. &nbsp;Grand league punts- Since Jan 2020, Rashid Khan has picked 193 wickets in the T20 format - the highest for anyone in the world in the timeframe. That is because he has played 44 more matches than the second best Haris Rauf but you can understand how much quality that Rashid does have in his reportiere. It hasn&rsquo;t waned a little bit. Expect him to bolster the points in your fantasy XI - not only with the ball, but also with the bat.- In 2022 alone, Wanindu Hasaranga has 39 T20 wickets at an average of 17.7. He was the second-best spinner in IPL 2022 after Yuzvendra Chahal. That he is spearheading the bowling unit for Sri Lanka, you can rest assured that he would yield us his share as the vice-captain of the fantasy side.Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661575709770-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Probable XI:Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Praveen Jayawickrama/Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan MadushankaAfghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai/Noor Ahmad/Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur RahmanPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Here are a few tips that could help you create your fantasy XI for the Asia Cup opener between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai on Saturday

Rashid Khan

Wanindu Hasaranga

Fantasy: Bank on Rashid and Hasaranga to bolster your Saturday

The 2022 edition of the Asia Cup is a golden trial opportunity for the Asian sides ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia. Neither of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, the participants <a href="https://www.cricket.com/live-score/215301/commentary/sl-vs-afg-match-1-asia-cup-2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in the lung opener</a>, are seen among the favorites to lift the trophy Down Under. But both teams hold a few cards up their sleeves in the battle of the Asian greats in the UAE.For starters, Sri Lanka have not won a T20I series in the last 12 months. But during the T20 World Cup last year, they showcased their striking force when their best team is put together. It was on display again when after losing the T20I series against Australia, they came back to win the ODIs and level the Test series. Different formats, but the Islanders battling it out during the times of turmoil at home was heartwarming to see. Overall, they appear to be a side on the rise, that is keen to leave the unproductive years behind them.&nbsp;Afghanistan have risen above the minnow status. There is no side they have not pushed hard, especially in the Asian conditions and truly deserve to be counted among the big boys. 10 years ago, it would have been a strange thing to say but the current Afghanistan squad holds more T20 experience than their Sri Lankan counterparts. Hence, there is not a lot to separate between these two sides ahead of the Asia Cup season opener.&nbsp;The battle of spinnersBoth sides are heavy on the spin bowling front. Both have maintained an economy of under 7 per over with their spinners in T20s since 2021. Afghanistan have picked wickets at 19.4 runs apiece while Sri Lanka at 22.1. With the amount of spin they bowl, these are excellent numbers. &nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661556509013-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">At least five quality spinners are certain to play in this fixture. Rashid Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga are like isomers - leg-spin bowling all-rounders, a major source of wickets, x-factors and excellent in the field. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Maheesh Theekshana are also UNO reverse cards for each other, in both skill and their utilization as powerplay specialists.&nbsp;Theekshana sets the ball rolling in the powerplay for Sri Lanka and Hasaranga cashes on the engendered pressure. The Afghans, however, have an additional helping hand in the form of Mohammad Nabi&rsquo;s off-spin. Sri Lanka will have a few left-handers in their top five which may increase the relevance of Nabi&rsquo;s spell. And will they play the left-arm wrist spinner, Noor Ahmad? There will be a spinners&rsquo; galore in this contest.&nbsp;The Lankans can also field a three-man spin attack with the inclusion of Praveen Jayawickrama&rsquo;s left-spin option ahead of a third seamer. Afghanistan have many right-handers in their batting order. Although, that will cost them playing another specialist seamer in the XI. Not to forget, they will have the option of Dhananjaya de Silva&rsquo;s part-time off-spin, although he is used when there is an absolute need courtesy of the conditions.&nbsp;They can also play two leg-spinners, including Jeffrey Vandersay.Sri Lanka&rsquo;s batting may give them the edgeIn Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka have lost the nip in their pace department, levelling the two pace attacks. The spin territory also cancels out each other. Hence, the batting comes out to be the only point of difference in anticipation of this fixture. Among Test playing nations, Sri Lanka have the second lowest batting average in T20Is since 2021 - 19.99.&nbsp;The numbers speak differently but a deeper dive will clear the picture. Afghanistan have majorly played lower-ranked sides since 2021 while Sri Lanka faced India, Australia and South Africa in a majority of their games. The Islanders have been bruised by high-quality bowling attacks but that experience separates them from the Afghan batters.&nbsp;The likes of Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka and Charith Asalanka have scored some tough runs this year. Afghanistan will vastly rely on Najibullah Zadran, their most productive batter in 2022.Key Phase in the matchThe first six overs of the Sri Lankan innings could be the key phase of the game. Sri Lanka holds the second lowest run-rate (6.6) and average (22.7) in the powerplay since 2021. The Lankan top order will be up against Mujeeb Ur Rahman in that phase, who has ace numbers with the new ball.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661556660923-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The dual between Pathum Nissanka, the young opener known for his solidity, and Mujeeb would be the one to watch out for. Nissanka has better numbers against spin in the powerplay than pace.&nbsp;Probable XIsSri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Praveen Jayawickrama/Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan MadushankaAfghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai/Noor Ahmad/Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur RahmanPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

They might not be the favorites but both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan hold a few cards up their sleeves in this Asia Cup

Maheesh Theekshana

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Pathum Nissanka

Najibullah Zadran

Praveen Jayawickrama

Plenty of spin in store for the Asia Cup opener

Since starting out as a tournament for goodwill between nations in 1984, the Asia Cup has set itself apart as a unique tournament with over 14 editions since. It is the only continental tournament in international cricket and the only competition which will be played in the ODI and T20 formats biennially and alternatively.To be played in the T20 format this year, it frames the perfect opportunity for the five nations to test themselves in a multi-team tournament before the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. Although the omission of three prime pacers due to injuries - Jasprit Bumrah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Dushmantha Chameera - has taken some sheen off the competition, it still remains a key tournament from the World Cup perspective. In this space, we look at the areas each team would look to improve in the UAE.IndiaThe Men in Blue will enter the tournament as firm favorites. They have played 21 T20Is this year, using most of them to test their bench strength and sift the best options for the T20 mega event in Australia. However, the Asia Cup will be about assessing the mettle of their anticipated squad. Hence, India have announced their full-strength squad for this Asia Cup, barring the injured Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661522070684-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">India will have a few other objectives. Their top-most priority would be Virat Kohli&rsquo;s form. The former Indian skipper averages 22.2 in T20s this year at a strike-rate of 118.2. He has missed a majority of the T20 internationals this year with the team doing well in his absence. A tough tournament for Kohli can put India in a precarious position regarding their star batter&rsquo;s selection for the World Cup.&nbsp;KL Rahul will also have the spotlight on him. Returning to the side after a three-month break from rehab, Rahul managed only 31 runs in two ODI innings against Zimbabwe. While he is almost a certainty for the World Cup, India will be eager to see one of their gun batters get back to what he does the best.&nbsp;Last but not the least, this Asia Cup will decide who gets the remaining seam bowler&rsquo;s spot in the World Cup squad. India have picked only three specialist pacers for this tournament out of which Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan are prime contenders for the mega-event Down Under. Arshdeep is currently ahead but things can take a twist.&nbsp;PakistanPakistan have played only one T20 international this year which makes this Asia Cup critical for their World Cup preparations. Firstly, this is the tournament that would set them into the T20 groove.&nbsp;Pakistan have a superb record in the UAE, winning five of their six T20Is in the middle-east nation since 2020. However, the World Cup is in Australia which poses a different challenge in terms of conditions. Currently, only two batters in their squad - Fakhar Zaman and Asif Ali - have managed an average of over 35 while striking above 140 in T20s this year. While Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are their top scorers, other teams have started scoring quicker in T20 cricket. Therefore, Pakistan will have the challenge to up the ante. Their batting approach would be one of the most interesting aspects of this Asia Cup.Meanwhile, Shaheen&rsquo;s injury is a major blow to their chances. In addition, the young Mohammad Wasim is also ruled out due to a back injury. It leaves Pakistan with a largely untested pace attack. Barring Haris Rauf, the other pacers in the squad - Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shahnawaz Dahani - hold the experience of only 20 T20Is in between them. In a way, it is a nice challenge for Pakistan; to test their fringe pacers in the absence of Shaheen in a multi-team tournament.&nbsp;Hasan Ali has been announced as the replacement for Wasim. Dropped from the side in the first place, it will be interesting to see if he gets a chance ahead of those originally selected, only to fill for the lack of experience.&nbsp;Sri LankaComing into the Asia Cup, the four-time champions suffered a big blow as premier pacer Dushmantha Chameera was ruled out due to a calf injury. This leaves Sri Lanka with a raw pace attack of Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana and Pramod Madushan &ndash; all of whom are uncapped in T20Is. In terms of experience, the fast-bowling department will rely on the smarts of allrounders Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne. However, Sri Lanka have an effective spin attack, in the form of Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana and Dhananjaya de Silva.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661522207617-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Among Test-playing nations, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s batting average of 20 since 2021 is only better than that of Bangladesh. The skipper Shanaka is the only batter to have numbers to brag about (average 44, strike-rate 145.3 in 11 T20Is this year). It is not that Sri Lanka have batting talent but they are yearning for consistency.&nbsp;A lot of these obstacles persisted in the T20 World Cup last year as well. Yet, the Islanders emerged as one of the most-improved sides in the tournament. They are yet to win a T20I series in the 12 months but still cannot be taken lightly.&nbsp;BangladeshNo other team has so much uncertainty going into the Asia Cup. The two-time finalists are without a head coach for their T20I team with BCB&rsquo;s technical director Sridharan Sriram responsible for the team strategy for the first time. Star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been handed over the captaincy in spite of the doubts over his commitment for the national team.&nbsp;They had two captains in their recent series against Zimbabwe which they lost 1-2 where their batting department failed miserably. Before that, they were beaten 0-2 in the T20I series against West Indies where the brittle nature of their batting was evident. While injuries and the absence of key players played a part in these failures overseas, Bangladesh&rsquo;s performance on the UAE pitches in the 2021 T20 World Cup didn&rsquo;t pose much to talk about either. They were stunned by Scotland in the first round and lost all their matches in the Super 12s stage. In Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, alongside possibly India and Pakistan in the Super 4s, Bangladesh will face a stern test ahead of the T20 World Cup.AfghanistanAfghanistan are placed with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Group B. In the previous edition of the Asia Cup - played in the 50-over format in 2018 - they defeated both these sides alongside a tied game against India. Afghanistan have only grown from strength to strength since then.&nbsp;They maintain an excellent spin attack with the likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi. Tackling this trio on the UAE tracks can prove too tricky for the best of the batting line-ups. The pace attack seems sorted with death bowling options in Fazalhaq Farooqui and Naveen Ul Haq.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661522350676-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">It is the batting where Afghanistan need to get better. Mohammad Nabi&rsquo;s form (average 17, strike-rate 116.3 in T20s this year) will be vital in the middle-order to take the pressure off Najibullah Zadran (43.5, strike-rate 155.2 in T20s this year). There is a similar story at the top; &nbsp;both Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have potential but need to be more consistent to support Ibrahim Zadran.&nbsp;Overall, Afghanistan have done quite well in T20 cricket, winning 11 of their 18 matches since 2021. However, only three of these games were against higher-ranked Test nations. They will take inspiration from their previous victories over their fellow Group B members and sail into the Super 4 stage of the competition this year.&nbsp;Hong KongFor the third time, Hong Kong qualified for the Asia Cup after an undefeated qualifying campaign. They defeated UAE, Singapore and Kuwait to make it to the 2022 edition.&nbsp;Hong Kong didn&rsquo;t cross the group stage in 2004 and 2018 and will look to pull off a big upset after being pitted against India and Pakistan. Veteran off-spinner Ehsan Khan will be crucial for Hong Kong after having snared nine wickets in the three matches in the Qualifier. In the batting department, captain Nizakat Khan alongside allrounder Yasim Murtaza will be key at the top of the order as the pair&rsquo;s consistency put Hong Kong in the Asia Cup.&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

A rundown of major takeaways for all the participating teams in the 2022 Asia Cup 

Babar Azam

Mohammad Rizwan

Fakhar Zaman

Avesh Khan

Nizakat Khan

Shakib Al Hasan

Ehsan Khan

Yasim Murtaza

Adil Rashid

Pakistan

Hong Kong

Bangladesh

India favorites but others hungry for the Asia Cup crown

Armed with a lot of positivity after his impressive stint in IPL, Sri Lanka batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa wants to continue playing the same brand of cricket at the Asia Cup beginning here on Saturday. Turning out for the Punjab Kings, Rajapaksa showcased his power hitting skills at this year&#39;s IPL with some impressive aggressive knocks.&quot;For me, the experience I bring after playing in the IPL will create good energy for the side,&quot; Rajapaksa was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.&quot;Coming back to the Sri Lankan side, I have brought in a lot of positivity after speaking to a lot of the IPL players, like Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal and KG (Kagiso Rabada). I don&#39;t think I have the time to explain in detail the talks we had, but there were a lot of positive vibes. I&#39;m hoping we can take that same brand of cricket to the world,&quot; he added.The 30-year-old Rajapaksa played nine games for the Punjab Kings, scoring 206 runs at a strike rate of 159.68.&quot;One of the best chats I had with Liam (Livingstone) was when he said, &#39;If it&#39;s in the V, make sure the ball is in the trees&#39;. He&#39;d just be that aggressive. Proper slam-bang player,&quot; he added.Sri Lanka will take on Afghanistan in the tournament opener on Saturday.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The 30-year-old Rajapaksa played nine games for the Punjab Kings, scoring 206 runs at a strike rate of 159.68.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Want to play same brand of cricket as the IPL Players : Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka have named a strong squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, commencing 27 August in the UAE. The squad will be led by their regular skipper Dasun Shanaka with Charith Asalanka as his deputy.&nbsp;While every full members had announced their squad well in advace, Sri Lanka, who was the original host of the tournament before fuel shortages and distrubed political situation resulted in the tournament moving to UAE, didn&#39;t announce theirs till the last moment.Sri Lanka will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Afghanistan on the opening day of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. They are placed alongside Bangladesh and Afghanistan while India, Pakistan and Qualifying team form the other group.Asia Cup qualifier will begin in Muskat today and the winner will be qualifying for the main event in UAE.&nbsp;Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh ChandimalPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Sri Lanka will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Afghanistan on the opening day of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai

Dinesh Chandimal

Charith Asalanka

Dasun Shanaka to lead Sri Lanka in 2022 Asia Cup

Afghanistan have announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in United Arab Emirates starting on August 27, with Samiullah Shinwari making a comeback to the squad after a gap of almost two years.&nbsp;Shinwari has featured in 64 T20I matches and scored 1013 runs at an average of 22.02 and a strike rate of 118.06. With the ball, he has scalped 28 wickets at an economy rate of 6.51 runs per over.&nbsp;In a statement released by Afghanistan cricket, chief selector Noor Malikzai said, &quot;The Asia Cup is an important event for us and, as such, we have picked our best available players for the event. Samiullah Shinwari has been added to the side for the Asia Cup.&quot;<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ACB Name Squad for Asia Cup 2022 Kabul, 16 August 2022: Afghanistan Cricket Board today announced its 17-member squad for the ACC Men&#39;s T20 Asia Cup 2022, which will be played from 27th August to 11th September in the United Arab Emirates. Read More: <a href="https://t.co/0Py8GqhiK4">https://t.co/0Py8GqhiK4</a> <a href="https://t.co/B5bK9tn2R4">pic.twitter.com/B5bK9tn2R4</a>&mdash; Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACBofficials/status/1559489021071564800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2022</a></blockquote>&quot;He is in very good form and can give further impetus to the batting department, which already boasts Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi. Shinwari has not played any international match since March 2020, but he has done well in the recently held Shpageeza Cricket League 2022 and demonstrated that he is a good option to strengthen our middle order,&quot; he further added.&nbsp;Mohammad Nabi has been named as the captain of the side and will lock horns against Sri Lanka in the inaugural match at the Dubai International Stadium.&nbsp;Najibullah Zadran will be the vice-captain of the side, and they are placed in Group B. The team is currently involved in a riveting five-match series against Ireland, which is levelled 2-2.&nbsp;Afghanistan squad: Mohammad Nabi (Captain), Najibullah Zadran (vice-captain), Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Mujib ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rashid Khan, Samiullah ShinwariPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The all-rounder last played for the national side in March 2020 against Ireland

SL vs AFG T20 Match 1, Asia Cup, 2022 - Commentary

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