The 10th edition of the Asia Cup just got over in Sri Lanka with India turning out better for the Finals against the host nation. It was nice to watch the Pakistani aggression in display led by the explosive Afridi. Two great knocks from Afridi for the regrouped Pakistan Side, Consistent performance from Sri Lanka, Just-enough-to-win performances by India and the expected failure of Bangladesh; that sums up the Asia Cup.
It is time that the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council redraft the objective of the Asia Cup. What is the Objective of the Asia Cup? The Asia Cup is supposed to provide a platform for all Asian Cricket Playing Countries to compete against each other, gain experience and then decide a winner?
Over the last 10 editions nothing has changed except the inclusion of Bangladesh. The ACC has around 18 Countries as members. Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and UAE are the members of the ACC. Of these 18 Countries, we know for sure Afghanistan, UAE, Nepal, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia have reasonably good quality of Cricketers.
Afghanistan was good enough for qualify in the ICC T20 World Cup but do not find a place in the Asia Cup ODIs. There isn’t much of a difference in terms of adjustments between ODI and T20. Both are fast food cricket. T20 is like a burger which you might get it instantly and ODI is like a pizza which you might have to wait just a little bit longer. Why Teams like Afghanistan and UAE do not get their right in participating in Asia Cup?
If the minnows are not allowed to play in such regional tournaments with the Senior Boys, how will they gain experience and exposure? How will the game improve in their respective countries? The experience and lessons learnt by these players will be useful in developing cricket back home. By mingling with International Stars, the players from the so called minnows would surely learn a trick or two. It is a known fact that many of the Senior Cricketers pass on their experience and knowledge to Junior Cricketers. So why deny the other Asian Countries a right to participate in the Asia Cup and learn valuable experience.
In ODI, the team that plays good cricket for 1 hr while batting and 1 hr while bowling has a good chance of winning the game. Minnows have upset many established teams in the past in the World Stage. Why should they not be included in the Asia Cup?
There are several ways in which ICC and ACC can bring in additional teams in the Asia Cup to reflect the true sense of Asia.
• The 18 Countries could be asked to play against each other and the top 2 could be made eligible to play in the Asia Cup.
• Grade the 18 ACC members by their performance and allow top 2 or 4 teams to participate in the Asia Cup.
• Have 2 Teams on behalf of the ACC by selecting the best players from these 18 Countries. The Teams could be called as ‘ACC XI’ and ‘Rest of Asia’.
• Atleast have 1 Team called ‘Rest of Asia’ by selecting the best available talent from the 18 Teams.
Allowing only the Test-Playing Countries to play for the Asia Cup is nothing but a pure commercial exercise by the authorities. India has played Sri Lanka on 13 ODIs since Sep 2009. What entertainment value will the cricket-viewing/watching public get? India and Sri Lanka have played so much of cricket in the last 12 months that even the families of the cricketers would have developed a very deep and great bonding by now. The Irony is there is still much more of India Vs Sri Lanka scheduled in the coming months.
By denying the participation of the other Cricket Playing Asian Countries, ICC/ACC do not have the right to call it an ASIA CUP. It is more a sub-continent cup and not truly Asia.
It is time that the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council redraft the objective of the Asia Cup. What is the Objective of the Asia Cup? The Asia Cup is supposed to provide a platform for all Asian Cricket Playing Countries to compete against each other, gain experience and then decide a winner?
Over the last 10 editions nothing has changed except the inclusion of Bangladesh. The ACC has around 18 Countries as members. Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and UAE are the members of the ACC. Of these 18 Countries, we know for sure Afghanistan, UAE, Nepal, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia have reasonably good quality of Cricketers.
Afghanistan was good enough for qualify in the ICC T20 World Cup but do not find a place in the Asia Cup ODIs. There isn’t much of a difference in terms of adjustments between ODI and T20. Both are fast food cricket. T20 is like a burger which you might get it instantly and ODI is like a pizza which you might have to wait just a little bit longer. Why Teams like Afghanistan and UAE do not get their right in participating in Asia Cup?
If the minnows are not allowed to play in such regional tournaments with the Senior Boys, how will they gain experience and exposure? How will the game improve in their respective countries? The experience and lessons learnt by these players will be useful in developing cricket back home. By mingling with International Stars, the players from the so called minnows would surely learn a trick or two. It is a known fact that many of the Senior Cricketers pass on their experience and knowledge to Junior Cricketers. So why deny the other Asian Countries a right to participate in the Asia Cup and learn valuable experience.
In ODI, the team that plays good cricket for 1 hr while batting and 1 hr while bowling has a good chance of winning the game. Minnows have upset many established teams in the past in the World Stage. Why should they not be included in the Asia Cup?
There are several ways in which ICC and ACC can bring in additional teams in the Asia Cup to reflect the true sense of Asia.
• The 18 Countries could be asked to play against each other and the top 2 could be made eligible to play in the Asia Cup.
• Grade the 18 ACC members by their performance and allow top 2 or 4 teams to participate in the Asia Cup.
• Have 2 Teams on behalf of the ACC by selecting the best players from these 18 Countries. The Teams could be called as ‘ACC XI’ and ‘Rest of Asia’.
• Atleast have 1 Team called ‘Rest of Asia’ by selecting the best available talent from the 18 Teams.
Allowing only the Test-Playing Countries to play for the Asia Cup is nothing but a pure commercial exercise by the authorities. India has played Sri Lanka on 13 ODIs since Sep 2009. What entertainment value will the cricket-viewing/watching public get? India and Sri Lanka have played so much of cricket in the last 12 months that even the families of the cricketers would have developed a very deep and great bonding by now. The Irony is there is still much more of India Vs Sri Lanka scheduled in the coming months.
By denying the participation of the other Cricket Playing Asian Countries, ICC/ACC do not have the right to call it an ASIA CUP. It is more a sub-continent cup and not truly Asia.
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