Sri Lankans start as Asia cup favourites

Sri Lanka start as favourites to win the Asia Cup after their splendid performances in Australia. Even though they failed to win the tri-series, their overall performance was top class and if the long travel in Australia and to Bangladesh does not take its toll, then the fact that they are match ready will stand them in better stead than the other teams, who have had some off time and so could be slow starters in the tournament. Sri Lanka have some tremendous young players and they have in Mahela Jayawardene, one of the shrewdest captains in the game. What they need to do is to examine why their key players get injured just before crucial matches. Angelo Mathews got injured just before the World Cup finals last year and that was a huge blow, and again in Australia he got injured before the tri-series finals. Thisara Perera, another fine player, also got injured before the tri-series finals in Australia. With both these pivotal players not in the fray for the Asia Cup, the Sri Lankans are a bit less formidable, but still have enough experience and talent to win the Cup. The tournament kicks off with the hosts, Bangladesh, playing Pakistan. The hosts had some selection issues and though they have been sorted out, they do leave a sour taste. They are captained by an enthusiastic young man and if he can shoulder the burden of leading the team, keeping wickets and coming down the order and playing the rescue act, then Bangladesh will be competitive. The return of Mashrafe Mortaza will also give the team a nice balance and if that talented player Shakib Al Hasan plays like we all know he can, then Bangladesh will be serious contenders. If there is any player that Mushfiqur can take inspiration from it is Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who does pretty much what the Bangladesh skipper, will have to do. Dhoni has been leading the team, keeping wickets and batting superbly in this format of the game for quite some time now. In fact he is the best finisher in the game today, capable of tackling challenging asking rates and making them look ridiculously easy. He will need all that and more as India look to salvage something after the disastrous year that they have had sine they won the World Cup, almost a year ago. Pakistan as always will be the dark horses for nobody, perhaps not even they themselves, know what sort of mood will seize them on the day. They are a mercurial team with some of the most destructive batsmen in the game, but as was seen in the One-day series against England recently they don't seem to fire when most needed. They too have a huge incentive to do well since their fans want them to wrest the Asia Cup from India. While that match will be most anticipated and most watched what will be important is for them not to ignore the challenges that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka pose them. It promises to be a an exciting tournament with some incredible talent on view, but the team that fields well will have the upper hand. They will save the runs, take the catches , effect the run-outs that can make the difference between winning and losing. From gulfnews