In May, even talking about the possibility of the Asia Cup going ahead was non-existent. The two biggest cricketing nations were on the verge of a war. Luckily, that didn’t happen. But the sentiment, especially in India, was that cricket between the two countries shouldn’t happen going forward.
But cricket won. The Indian government allowed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to play in the Asia Cup but put a stop to all bilateral sports with Pakistan. Therefore, tomorrow Afghanistan will kick off the tournament against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.
But the Asia Cup holds bigger significance. With the 2026 T20 World Cup just around the corner, you couldn’t ask for better preparation for the ICC event. The pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi won’t be far off from many of the surfaces that’ll be offered for the mega tournament that’ll be played in India.
Each team will have objectives. Yes, winning the Asia Cup will be on top, but there’s much to gain from the tournament.
India: Openers, all-rounders & wicketkeepers
Team India has intense competition. Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson are fighting for the opening spot. Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting for a chance. Samson might also fight with Tilak Varma for the number three spot. All of them, barring Jaiswal, have a place to contend.
Jitesh Sharma has a lot on the line; if he succeeds as the finisher, he might keep Dhruv Jurel and Samson out to be India’s designated wicketkeeper. Then you have Shivam Dube, who might not have been here if Nitish Reddy was fit. He’s got a mark to make.
By the time Asia Cup ends, India will want most of these boxes to be kicked.
Sri Lanka & Afghanistan: Time to shine
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan both have settled teams. But they have issues. For Lankans, it’ll be about fielding their best XI. Wanindu Hasaranga isn’t 100%. But he isn’t the only one. For the last couple of years, Sri Lanka hasn’t had to play an entire multi-nation tournament without a couple of their bowlers getting injured. Matheesha Pathirana’s fitness and performance are paramount. Since his action change, he hasn’t been that great, which they’ll hope changes soon.
Afghanistan still relies way too much on their main players. Their batting is very top-heavy. If their top three sets the game up, it’s fine; otherwise, they don’t compete well. Chasing is a major concern. They just got bundles out for 66 while chasing 142 against Pakistan. Mohammad Nabi, despite being 40, continues to be one of their best players, but that’s good and bad. Rashid Khan’s form hasn’t been great since his back injury, and we’ll see how he performs against the top teams.
Pakistan & Bangladesh: Unsettled
Pakistan has rebuilt its team. Results have been great under the new coach and captain. But they lost to Afghanistan recently and then India’s just on another level. Their pace bowling stocks have slightly dipped with Naseem Shah gone and Shaheen Afridi not at his 2022 best. Their top order hasn’t fired as well as they’d like.
Bangladesh always has the talent, but they just don’t click together, especially in the big tournament. Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Tamim Iqbal are gone. Litton Das hasn’t yet proved himself. Despite getting a good pace battery, the results still aren’t there. If they solve even one of these problems, they’ll leave happy.
Oman & UAE: Yet to qualify
Three teams from the Asia and East Asia-Pacific region will qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Oman, Malaysia, Qatar, UAE, Japan, Kuwait, Nepal, PNG, and Samoa will fight for these three spots. Hong Kong has qualified for the Asia Cup but won’t play in the ICC event, as Malaysia and Kuwait emerged on top in the Asia Qualifier A.
Oman and the UAE will both want someone to get a win. It’ll most likely be against each other since they have been drawn with Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup. But winning even a match here will give them confidence for the future.
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