The Asian continent continues their preparation for the World Cup next summer when the latest version of the Asia Cup takes place. The six-team tournament begins in the UAE on Saturday and might give us a clear picture at who is the best side in Asia.
Recent Winners
2016 – India
2014 – Sri Lanka
2012 – Pakistan
2010 – India
2008 – Sri Lanka
2004 – Sri Lanka
2000 – Pakistan
The Format
After a switch to the T20 format for the last version of this tournament we are back to the 50 over ODI format. Six teams will do battle in the tournament with the first stage seeing them put into groups of three.
The top two in each group progress to the second stage where the top two sides at the end of that group compete in the final. There are 13 matches in all and the tournament is done and dusted in under two weeks.
Group A
India are the favourites to win the tournament and are odds on with most bookmakers but it is a concern that they have only won this tournament once this century. It might be down to them not taking it as seriously as they might and there is an element of that this time around too with Virat Kohli rested for the series. India were playing Test cricket in England four days before the start of the tournament which is less than ideal.
Pakistan are the winners of the Champions Trophy and will be out to emulate that performance here. Their players left the CPL a couple of weeks back to attend a training camp so there is no doubt that Pakistan are taking this seriously. This might be their best format at the minute so there is pressure on them to come through and deliver.
Hong Kong won the qualifying tournament for this event. That means they bring plenty of winning form into the competition with them but being in this group makes qualifying tough. Being competitive is probably the best Hong Kong can hope for especially as the likes of Mark Chapman and Jamie Atkinson no longer around this will be a tough gig for them.
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Group B
Sri Lanka are rated as the favourites to come through this section of the draw but they have won just six of their last 25 ODIs and two of them were dead rubbers against South Africa when they had already lost that series. Injury to Dinesh Chandimal makes their task significantly tougher and this young side could be found wanting.
Bangladesh showed their improvement in the World Cup three years ago when they escaped their group there and then last year at the Champions Trophy they did the same thing again before being beaten by India in the semi-final. If they continue to progress at that rate they could run the rest of the field close here with their strong looking squad.
Afghanistan have made a big impression on the domestic T20 scene with the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman excelling for periods of time. They are underrated with the bat and can play with a little freedom here. They will need to polish off one of the big two to make it through but if Mohammad Shahzad or a couple of the batsmen around him have days out that is not impossible.
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Betting
The only market that has been priced up for this tournament is the outright one so it would be wrong not to have a little look at that. India and Pakistan are the favourites and given that they are near enough through to the super four stage just by turning up that is understandable but the value could lie elsewhere.
Bangladesh are undoubtedly an improving nation right now and in Asian conditions I think they can be a threat for everyone here. They have a spin orientated attack which is no bad thing but their seamers have good skills. Unlike some in the tournament they have a solid and deep batting line up. They will need to polish off India or Pakistan to make the final but in a one-off game that is not impossible. At 14/1 I’ll pay to see if they can continue their progression in these big events.
Tips
Back Bangladesh to win Asia Cup for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with Betfred
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