Sri Lanka look to clinch Asia Cup 2010 as Pakistan prepares for Australia
Finally after all the cricketing action over the course of the last two weeks, the final of the Asia Cup will be played today between the unbeaten SriLankan’s and the men from India in Asia Cup 2010.
Captain Sangakkara and his team would be going into today’s Asia Cup final, confident that they would be able to secure their third Asia Cup title in a row and thus make an Asia Cup hat-trick, since Sri Lanka has won the 2006 and 2008 editions as well.
The reasons for this confidence also become reiterated by the fact that just two days ago, they thrashed the Indians by seven wickets in the last group stage match.
A win for SriLanka today would hold even more significance since they are the host’s and will be playing in front of their home crowd.
On the opposite side the Indian team captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni says that his team is not under any pressure after their defeat, however he hopes that his players display more consistency both in the bowling and the batting department. Dhoni says that his men will go out and play with the mindset that it is just another one dayer and not a final and that would hopefully get the pressure off of them.
However, it is easier said than done as one can be sure that with the atmosphere around the ground expected to be electrifying as the home team takes on the Indians in the final and with the Trophy at display, it would be a touch difficult not to be constantly reminded that it is the final being played of the Asia Cup 2010.
In terms of form and player composition, both teams are evenly balanced, so now it’s only a question of which team manages to handle the pressure, perform better and consistently on the given day and thus go on to lift the 2010 Asia Cup.
Looking back at the history of these two teams India and Sri Lanka have played against each other in 15 tournament finals out of which India has won six and Sri Lanka seven. However one thing pertinent to mention here is that India haven't won an Asia Cup in 15 years and this will be the 19th ODI against between these two teams since 2009.
May the better team win!!!
On the split side of Asian cricket, the Pakistan cricket team after an unlucky Asia Cup tour are now preparing for their English mission, where they take on the mighty Australians and then go up against hosts England.
The team has been decided however shocking news for cricket came in from the PCB after former captain and a great batsmen especially in English conditions has not been selected.
Younis Khan who has just been cleared of a ban that the PCB had put upon him after the miserable tour to Australia has, despite getting his name cleared, not been given a spot in the players who will be travelling to England.
Many cricket legends in Pakistan feel that the exclusion of Younis Khan is a classic example of a player being victimized by the Pakistan Cricket Board and its selectors.
However, captain Shahid Afridi, while clarifying his position, has been heard saying that he wanted the senior batsman to be part of the squad but Younis Khan has not been picked due to lack of match-practice, some past disciplinary problems and also the fact that he alone did not pick the touring squad which was selected in consultation with him, the coach and the national selection committee.
Commenting on the team’s selection, Afridi says that he is satisfied with the current structure of the team. About Shoaib Akhtar’s omission from the test squad, Afridi clarified that Akhtar had only been recalled to the national line-up for one-day internationals and T20’s.
However, in all this selection gala, one cannot but be surprised and shocked at the same time as to how Pakistan’s discarded batsmen Misbah Ul Haq and Faisal Iqbal have the audacity to go on and crib about not being selected. The credit of course goes to the PCB as they have given both of these batsmen enough chances to prove their worth but sadly both of them have not been able to do so.
Looking critically perhaps Misbah did stand a chance to be given another opportunity since he has not always disappointed the hopes of the fans and the nation. However, Faisal Iqbal should be shown the door for good since his performances in a majority of the matches that he has played so far for the country have been nothing less than pathetic.
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