Asia Cup 2022: Ranking the Strongest Playing 11 for All 6 Teams

India, the number 1 team on paper as we look at the ranking of the best predicted playing 11 for all 6 teams for Asia Cup 2022. 

The Asia Cup 2022 is just a few days away, but we already had the Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers running for the last few days. With 5 teams, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh already qualified to play in the Asia Cup 2022, we now have Hong Kong as the sixth team.

So, the battle of sixes with India, Pakistan, and Hong Kong in Group A and Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh in Group B will officially play the Asia Cup 2022 starting August 27. The top two teams from each group will proceed further to play the Super 4. The top 2 teams will then meet in the final. 

Now, we have the sixth team and the squad for all the teams available in hand. So, we can easily predict the best playing 11 for each team. So, in this article, we will look at the ranking of the best predicted playing 11 for all 6 teams for Asia Cup 2022.

Methodology:

To arrive at the ranking, we will look at the best 11 players from each team across each category, viz., Batting, Bowling, and All-rounder. To remove any biases and perception, we will look at the unbiased ICC ranking of each player against their category as that is the only source of truth for us. 

The ranking shall have an absolute points system. For example, Rank 1-10 shall have 10 points. Similarly, Rank 11-20 shall have 9, and so on. The minimum points for each player shall be 5. In the end, the team with the highest aggregate ranking points shall be ranked the highest.   

#6: Hong Kong – NA

The number 6 belongs to the Qualifier team, Hong Kong. It has been an inspirational journey for Hong Kong as they defeated the heavyweights UAE to qualify for Asia Cup 2022. Led by Captain Nizakat Khan, Hong Kong have as many as 8 bowling options.

If qualifiers are anything to go by, Nizakat and Yasim shall open. Babar Hayat, Kinchit and Aizaz shall be in the middle-order.  Whereas McKechnie, Zeeshan shall be the lower-order. Talking about the bowlers, HK have Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Mohammad Ghazanfar, and Ayush Shukla. 

Asia Cup 2022 – Best Predicted Playing 11 for Hong Kong: 

Nizakat Khan(C), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Scott McKechnie (WK), Zeeshan Ali, Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Mohammad Ghazanfar & Ayush Shukla

#5: Bangladesh – 71

Number 5 shouldn’t surprise many as Bangladesh aren’t such a strong team in this competition. But with so many new faces, it would be interesting to see what playing 11 they adopt. Ideally, Anamul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim should open. Followed by Shakib, Sabbir and Afif Hossain. Mahmudullah, Saifuddin, and Mahedi make for a good lower-order. Whereas the pace of Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed shall be useful along with the spin of Nasum Ahmed.

Overall, Bangladesh have only 3 players ranked in the top 30. Whereas all their other players are almost above 30. That’s the reason they aren’t ranked in the top 3. Hopefully, their performance isn’t a reflection of their ranking. With Asia Cup played in the T20 format, Bangladesh shall be hoping for Super 4 finish at the least.  

Asia Cup 2022 – Best Predicted Playing 11 for Bangladesh: 

Anamul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Shakib Al Hasan (C), Sabbir Rahman, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mohammed Saifuddin,  Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed & Nasum Ahmed

#4: Pakistan – 73

Talking about number 4, Pakistan’s name comes as a surprise. Pakistan does have a solid line-up, but having played only 1 T20I in 2022, their player ranking has taken a beating. Of the 11 players mentioned below, only 4 players are ranked in the top 30. Whereas almost 5 players are ranked above 50. That’s why their ranking has taken a beating. 

Ideally, Pakistan should open with their two best T20 players, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. This should be followed by Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmad, and Khusdil Shah. The lower-order shall comprise of Asif Ali, and Shadab Khan. Whereas the bowling shall comprise of Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, and Naseem Shah. Unfortunately, the team shall miss the services of their best T20 bowler, Shaheen Afridi. 

Asia Cup 2022 – Best Predicted Playing 11 for Pakistan: 

Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khusdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf, Usman Qadir & Naseem Shah

#3: Sri Lanka – 76

Coming to number 3, Sri Lanka’s young squad make the cut. The team shall have Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka as openers. Asalanka, Rajapaksa, and Kusal Mendis shall play in the middle-order. Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga form for good lower-order players. The bowling shall have the pace of Chamika, Thushara, and Pathirana with the spin of Theekshana. 

Overall,  Sri Lanka have 4 players ranked in the top 20, which is excellent. Apart from that, Sri Lanka have only 5 players ranked above 50. Whereas 2 players are ranked between 20 to 50. This is the reason, Sri Lanka have an aggregate points of 76, which is 3 more than Pakistan’s 73. 

Asia Cup 2022 – Best Predicted Playing 11 for Sri Lanka: 

Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kusal Mendis (WK), Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwan Thushara, Maheesh Theekshana & M Pathirana

#2: Afghanistan – 77

Afghanistan at number 2 may surprise a lot of people, but given the amount of T20Is Afghanistan play and the number of good ranked players in the top 30, Afghanistan stand out as a team in T20Is. Of the 11 players mentioned below, Afghanistan have 4 players in the top 20, 2 players in the top 40, and 5 players below in top 50. Afghanistan have an aggregate of 77 points; just 1 more than that of Sri Lanka. 

Ideally, Afghanistan should see Zazai and Gurbaz opening the innings. This should be followed by Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, and Najibullah Zadran. The lower-order shall comprise of Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Whereas, the bowling shall comprise of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Farooqi, and Naveen Ul Haq

Asia Cup 2022 – Best Predicted Playing 11 for Afghanistan: 

Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (C), Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Farooqi & Naveen Ul Haq

#1: Team India – 82

The number 1 rank belongs to Team India, who undeniably have the best team on paper. If we look at the best playing 11 for Team India, we have Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as openers. Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant in the middle-order. Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin in the lower-order. Finally, Bhubneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal as pure bowlers. India can also of think of playing an extra pacer, Avesh Khan for Ashwin, but that won’t make India a strong team. 

Analyzing the team, India are without their two key bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel. Even then, India have Suryakumar Yadav as their best-ranked batter. Apart from him, India have Rohit, KL, Hardik, Bhuvi, and Yuzi in the top 30. Whereas, Kohli, Pant, Jadeja, Ashwin, and Arshdeep are ranked above 30. With almost 6 players in the top 30, India get the edge to be the best-ranked team on paper with 82 aggregate points. 

Asia Cup 2022 – Best Predicted Playing 11 for Team India: 

Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh & Yuzvendra Chahal. 

So, that’s how the six teams are ranked in Asia Cup 2022 when it comes to their best playing 11. The main question for all the teams shall be pace vs spin. Whether they go with spin heavy or pace heavy. Whatever the situation is, this is going to be an exciting Asia Cup 2022 with the format being T20. 

Thanks for reading! Which team looks the strongest to win the Asia Cup 2022? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2022: Official Updated Squad and Players List for all Teams

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.