Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08.
Tags: Asia Cup Cricket
The forthcoming Asia Cup is set to be a hotly-contested affair with Subcontinental giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka pitting their wits against Test newbies Bangladesh and minnows Hong Kong and UAE. But who will take the trophy home?
Of course, it is overwhelmingly likely that the winners will be one of the three established cricketing nations. But after Pakistan’s showing at the World Cup and Ireland’s famous victory over them, pressure to overturn the less-experienced sides could prove telling.
The ’08 Asia Cup’s opening group stages again has two clear favourites to progress from each pool. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka face the UAE, whilst India and Pakistan will play each other and Hong Kong. Should either of the non-Test nations progress, it would be a major shock with serious repercussions for the team to miss out.
With the tournament to be held in Pakistan, the home side will be looking to produce a commendable showing and at least reach the final.
However, the scandal surrounding pace bowler Mohammed Asif could cast a cloud over the rest of the team. Whilst it is not known precisely what drugs were found on his person, his omission from the side has told its own story.
Pakistan will be looking to IPL success story Sohail Tanvir to lead the attack for this series. His unique fast-arm action and haul of wickets for Rajasthan has increased his International stock, and his contribution could be crucial.
In terms of batting, Shahid Afridi and Misbah Ul-Haq need to rediscover their big-hitting form to stamp their authority on the tournament.
India‘s side certainly looks one of the strongest on paper but, as the cliche goes, cricket is not played on paper. Sreesanth was one of the bowling picks in the IPL and youngsters such as Suresh Raina and Yousuf Pathan lit up the world stage. One-day captain MS Dhoni will also be keen to make key contributions in the middle order.
However, my bet for Asia Cup champions this year has to be Sri Lanka. They have the easier of the two groups, and a semi-final berth seems inevitable.
On the bowling front, legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has been recalled to the side, and Dilhara Fernando bowled beautifully in the closing stages of the IPL. Farveez Maharoof also showed glimpses of brilliance and has some big shots in his batting locker. Unfortunately, though, injury looks to have forced Lasith Malinga’s withdrawal.
The explosive form of wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara has been exemplary in recent times and could be vital in the team’s push for success.
The keystone of the Sri Lanka team, though, has to be veteran big-hitter Sanath Jayasuriya. If the little legend, recalled to the one-day side for this tournament, can reproduce the kind of batting he displayed for the Mumbai Indians, then his side can look forward to a great tournament.
Whatever happens, the Asia Cup of 2008 will be the acid test for the 50-over version of the game. If it can keep the intensity high and drama flowing, all ideas of scrapping ODIs could be quickly forgotten.
For more info about 08′ Asia Cup visit here !
Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08 Information.
Tags: Asia Cup Cricket 08 Information
Punjab seamer Manpreet Gony was today (June 7) included in the Indian squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh after paceman S Sreesanth was ruled out due to a side strain, sustained in an Indian Premier League match.
“Due to non availability of Sreesanth, it was decided by the selection committee to send Manpreet Gony for Bangladesh tri-series,” Niranjan Shah, BCCI Secretary, said in a media
release.
“Sreesanth was yesterday assessed by Dr. Kinja at Bangalore. He has got a left-sided external oblique strain. He would require about 2 weeks for recovering from the current situation and getting back to his normal bowling routine,” the press release added.
The Punjab bowler thus becomes the third player who has been rewarded for his good performance in the recently concluded inaugural Indian Premier League.
Gony, who has played just five-first class matches, had claimed 17 wickets in 16 matches for the IPL runners-up Chennai Super Kings at an average of 26.05.
Baroda all rounder Yousuf Pathan and Hyderabad spinner Pragyan Ojha were earlier given ODI calls for the tri-series. The Kerala pacer would now undergo a two-week rehabilitation programme and will be available for the Asia Cup, to be held in Pakistan.
“He will be available for Asia Cup 2008 to be played at Pakistan.
Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements in Pakistan for the Asia Cup next month. “Everything is in order and we are satisfied with the security arrangements made by Pakistan,” Ashraful Huq, the ACC chief executive, told AFP. “We hope that the event will be held in a fitting manner.”
The Asia Cup will be played between six teams – Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Hong Kong – in Karachi and Lahore from June 24 to July 6. Security has been a concern for visiting teams after a state of emergency was imposed in November, followed in December by the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, which sparked off violent protests across the country. The ICC women’s World Cup Qualifiers were shifted from Pakistan to South Africa and then Australia decided to postpone their tour of the country. But since general elections in February and the forming of a new government, the violence has lessened considerably.
Last week an ICC delegation reportedly left satisfied after inspecting grounds around Pakistan to assess the security situation ahead of the Champions Trophy in September. Pakistan is expected to get the go-ahead for hosting the tournament, with Sri Lanka being the alternative host country, at the ICC board meeting in Dubai on June 29.
The ACC will be commemorating its 25th anniversary during the Asia Cup and Huq said awards to mark the occasion would be given to top Asian cricketers and past and current administrators. A four-member committee has been formed to organise the function.
© Cricinfo
Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08.
Tags: Asia Cup Cricket, Live Cricket Links
The Asia Cup Cricket is all set to start on the 24th of June in Pakistan. This will be a big tournament for all the three Asian Cricket Giants. Srilanka are the defending champions but off late their performances have been disappointing. Pakistan have never won the Asia Cup and geoff lawson has a lot to prove in this tournament. India are the team in form and the clear favourites to win this Tournament, but it certainly wont be easy while Bangladesh will look to cause a few upsets as they did in the WC.The bangladesh Tri series is a sort of warm up tournament before the Asia Cup, starting on June 8th.Get all the information about the ASIA CUP CRICKET HERE.
June 6, 2008
Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08 Information.
Ojha & Yusuf for Asia Cup Cricket
Yusuf Pathan, a right-hand batsman, and Pragyan Ojha, a left-arm spinner, have been called up to the 15-member squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan next month. Dinesh Karthik and Munaf Patel, who played in the CB Series, failed to make the cut.
The inclusion of Yusuf, who is the half-brother of Irfan Pathan, was on expected lines after his stand-out performances for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. He has scored 334 runs at 27.83 from 13 innings with three fifties, and recorded the fastest half-century of the Twenty20 tournament: off 21 balls against the Deccan Chargers. He also took five wickets at 41.60 with his offspin.
Ojha was one of exceptions in an otherwise lacklustre performance by his team, Deccan, who lost 12 off their 14 matches. He took 11 wickets at 25.81, and his best figures were 2 for 18 in their IPL opener against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
However Venkatapathy Raju, the former India left-arm spinner who is also one of the national selectors, said IPL performances had not carried much weightage in picking the squad. “Our team did well in Australia and we kept in mind injuries to players in our selection”, Raju told Cricinfo. “Murali Kartik was injured and he opted out so we were looking for another left-arm spinner and Ojha’s advantage is his height. He was the selectors’ choice and not a recommendation from the captain.”
Yusuf, meanwhile, was a unanimous choice, Raju said, based on his recent performances. Apart from the selectors, Dav Whatmore, the National Cricket Academy director, Gary Kirtsen, the coach, Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni attended the meeting.
Ojha first came in to the limelight last August when he picked up 22 wickets in India A’s tour of Kenya, including 9 for 85 in a three-day fixture that India won by an innings and 87 runs.
In four List A games last season, Yusuf scored 92 for Baroda, while Ojha, picked up six wickets for Hyderabad. Their first-class record was better, with Yusuf getting 441 runs at 44.10 from seven Ranji games and Ojha topping Hyderabad’s wickets list with 24 at 31.87 from six matches.
Squad Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha.
© Cricinfo
June 6, 2008
Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08 Information.
ACC satisfied with security measures for Asia Cup
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements in Pakistan for the Asia Cup next month. “Everything is in order and we are satisfied with the security arrangements made by Pakistan,” Ashraful Huq, the ACC chief executive, told AFP. “We hope that the event will be held in a fitting manner.”
The Asia Cup will be played between six teams – Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Hong Kong – in Karachi and Lahore from June 24 to July 6. Security has been a concern for visiting teams after a state of emergency was imposed in November, followed in December by the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, which sparked off violent protests across the country. The ICC women’s World Cup Qualifiers were shifted from Pakistan to South Africa and then Australia decided to postpone their tour of the country. But since general elections in February and the forming of a new government, the violence has lessened considerably.
Last week an ICC delegation reportedly left satisfied after inspecting grounds around Pakistan to assess the security situation ahead of the Champions Trophy in September. Pakistan is expected to get the go-ahead for hosting the tournament, with Sri Lanka being the alternative host country, at the ICC board meeting in Dubai on June 29.
The ACC will be commemorating its 25th anniversary during the Asia Cup and Huq said awards to mark the occasion would be given to top Asian cricketers and past and current administrators. A four-member committee has been formed to organise the function.
© Cricinfo
Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08 Information.
After 4 years, 9th edition of Cricket tournament between Asian countries, Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan from 24th June, 2008 and will end up on 6th July, 2008. For all the cricket lovers, Hasan-Online.com will be streaming live online cricket matches.
This year six teams will be divided into two groups. Group A consists of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates and Group B consists of Pakistan, Hong Kong and India. Each country will play group’s other members once, and top two teams will be qualified to second phase where they will play each other once. The top two teams will contest for the final.
In 2004, Sri Lanka host the tournament and became the champions and India became Runners Up. Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have announced that the tournament will be held biennially from this year.On Tuesday, Bangladesh announced its 14-member squad for the series. Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and allrounder Mehrab Hossian jnr have been recalled while Dolar Mahmud is a new face in national team.
Bangladesh’s team for Asia Cup as Follows:Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Mashrafe Mortaza (vice-capt), Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Farhad Reza, Shahriar Nafees, Nazimuddin, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehrab Hossain jnr, Dolar Mahmud, Mosharraf Hossain. Reserves: Junaid Siddique, Dhiman Ghosh, Rubel Hossain, Alok Kapali, Naeem Islam.
Earlier United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong also named their 15-member squads for the tournament. Saqib Ali will lead the UAE team. Other member of the team as follows: Saqib Ali (capt), Fahad Alhashmi, Alawi Shukri, Aman Ali, Amjad Ali (wk), Amjad Javed, Arshad Ali, Indika Batuwitarachchi, Nizel Fernandes, Khurram Khan, Mohammad Tauqir, Salman Farooq, Shadeep Silva, Vikrant Shetty, Zahid Shah.
Hong Kong are grouped alongside India and Pakistan, Tabarak Dar will lead the team and will bat as an Openning batsman. Other members are : Tabarak Dar (capt), Afzaal Haider, Ashish Gadhia, James Atkinson, Toby Brown, Hussain Butt, Irfan Ahmed, Courtney Kruger, Roy Lamsam, Munir Dar, Nadeem Ahmed, Najeeb Amar, Skhawat Ali, Wakas Barkat (wk), Zain Abbas.
Posted by livecricketlinks in Asia Cup Cricket 08.
Tags: Asia Cup Cricket
The Asia Cup Cricket is all set to start on the 24th of June in Pakistan. This will be a big tournament for all the three Asian Cricket Giants. Srilanka are the defending champions but off late their performances have been disappointing. Pakistan have never won the Asia Cup and geoff lawson has a lot to prove in this tournament. India are the team in form and the clear favourites to win this Tournament, but it certainly wont be easy while Bangladesh will look to cause a few upsets as they did in the WC.
The bangladesh Tri series is a sort of warm up tournament before the Asia Cup, starting on June 8th, here is a list of fixtures for this tri series:June 8th — Pakistan v Bangladesh at Mirpur
June 10th — India v Pakistan at Mirpur
June 12th — India v Bangladesh at Mirpur
June 14th — Final at Mirpur
