Asia Cup - Going to get more intense in future?

[freelance_cricketer]

Bangladesh has almost emerged and the Afghans are getting better day by day. The other big 3 are obviously the top ODI teams in World Cricket ( 3 of the 4 semi finalists in WC'11).

This gets me excited about future Asia Cups. All of a sudden a tourney that everyone thought was useless and was in place just to ensure some Cricket between India-Pakistan, looks set to become Cricket's biggest Continental battle.


Like there is Euro and Copa America in Soccer

[Ironcat]

There is an assumption in there somewhere about India?

[shakil]

Why did the invite Afghanistan for the Asia Cup? Is there any criteria for participation?

[ali85]

Hopefully it will be bigger in the future.

I can definitely see Afghanistan and another Asian nation (Hong Kong?) forming part.

[Down2Earth]

well including afghanistan could improve that quality as they'll give india tough matches.

[Cracket]

It really is good to see Bangla trying to fight their minnow title. The more intensity we have in the subcontinent, the better. Hopefully Afghanistan steps it up on the other side and Asia Cups could start turning in more revenue than World Cups.

Edit:

Also Bangladesh is improving because they get a chance to play a crap ton of cricket. Afghanistan and Ireland need matches too to improve their game.

[Ashraful_Rox]

Originally Posted by freelance_cricketer Bangladesh has almost emerged and the Afghans are getting better day by day. The other big 3 are obviously the top ODI teams in World Cricket ( 3 of the 4 semi finalists in WC'11). This gets me excited about future Asia Cups. All of a sudden a tourney that everyone thought was useless and was in place just to ensure some Cricket between India-Pakistan, looks set to become Cricket's biggest Continental battle. Like there is Euro and Copa America in Soccer

Nice Thinking this will definitely be bigger than the Ashes and the other cups for subcontinental people at least.

Larger fanbase than rest of the world

[amit]

the asia cup will be next only to the world cup then. hope we have a 8 team format (like 1975 & 1979 wc)

with teams like afghanistan improving and also nepal & hongkong emerging, we can have very intense asia cups

[mrk]

Add AFghanistan next time

[Spiderguy252]

I don't want to see useless teams like Hong Kong, Oman, UAE, Singapore, etc. That's all.

Bangladesh can stay.

[siccric]

Must say this Asia Cup has been really enjoyable to watch, but the only reason for that is that all teams have been competitive. I don't expect Bangla to perform as well outside home in future editions, but I do hope they prove me wrong. I didn't expect them to do well in this edition either but they have been a really pleasant surprise. As for the induction of minnows into the Asia Cup, I don't support it at all. I know they need games against the big guns to develop, but such tournaments should be only for nations that are able to compete. Otherwise they'll become boring like Asia Cup 2008 in Pak with Hong Kong and UAE.

[Boi]

If you want to induct the likes of Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Nepal I think the ACC should have a separate tournament for it with the 'A' sides from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh competing to pose some healthy competition for the minnows. Based on the minnows' performances in that tournament, they should be inducted into the main Asia Cup.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Bangladesh have not emerged. Your bowling was just atrocious

[kolkata_thai]

Originally Posted by MR__KHAN__JI Bangladesh have not emerged. Your bowling was just atrocious

Then I guess for 2 consecutive matches they have shown fluke performances.

The Pakistani bowling struggled as much as the Indians in their last match against Bangladesh. No Gul or Ajmal magic won Pakistan that match. Get that into your head. Nasir just played too casually and Mortaza and Razzak were just trying to be heroes by hitting sixers when singles were required.

I wonder what you have said if Bangladesh had beaten Pakistan and lost narrowly to us.

[Blitz]

Just because your team lost to Bangladesh, doesn't mean they are about to 'emerge'.


Just a couple of months ago, we whitewashed them in ODIs, Tests and T20s IN Bangladesh.


Bangladesh has had about a billion emerges:

When they beat Pakistan in 1999.
When they almost beat Pakistan in a test in 2003.
When they beat Australia in 2005.
When they knocked out India, and then beat South Africa in the World Cup in 2007.
When they whitewashed West Indies in tests and ODI's in 2009.
When they beat England and 'almost' qualified for QFs in the World Cup of 2011.
When they beat India in Asia Cup 2012

[kolkata_thai]

Originally Posted by Blitz Just because your team lost to Bangladesh, doesn't mean they are about to 'emerge'. Just a couple of months ago, we whitewashed them in ODIs, Tests and T20s IN Bangladesh. Bangladesh has had about a billion emerges: When they beat Pakistan in 1999. When they almost beat Pakistan in a test in 2003. When they beat Australia in 2005. When they knocked out India, and then beat South Africa in the World Cup in 2007. When they whitewashed West Indies in tests and ODI's in 2009. When they beat England and 'almost' qualified for QFs in the World Cup of 2011. When they beat India in Asia Cup 2012

They will never emerge. It's something that does not happen overnight. Just like a boy does not become a man in a single day. But they are going in the right direction. They whitewashed NZ 4-0 and beat WI in the T20I and bowled out WI for 60 odd runs in the last ODI they played against them. So i guess at home at par or better than WI and NZ.

Just like to add,

Pakistan got a much better bowling attack but your batting is no better than bengalis.

[freelance_cricketer]

That's harsh Blitzer, they did give Pakistan a run for their money as well. Simply choked in last 5 overs for their lack of finishing experience. I said they have almost emerged, rest is wishful thinking on my part.

[Fawad2010]

It has been more entertaining, with BD waking up at he right moment, and us performing certainly doesn't hurt.

I'd still think Asia Cup in 20/20 format is worth giving a look in to.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by kolkata_thai Then I guess for 2 consecutive matches they have shown fluke performances. The Pakistani bowling struggled as much as the Indians in their last match against Bangladesh. No Gul or Ajmal magic won Pakistan that match. Get that into your head. Nasir just played too casually and Mortaza and Razzak were just trying to be heroes by hitting sixers when singles were required. I wonder what you have said if Bangladesh had beaten Pakistan and lost narrowly to us.

Two matches does not constitute an emergence.

They are getting better.

Tamim is ok.
Shakib is good.
Nasir potentially ok
Mushfiqur good.
Spinners are ok.

[alberto]

Bangladesh love to scrap and have a great young coach in Stuart Law. They are followibg the Sri lanka road of picking australian young coaches( whatmore, Moody and bayliss) which will help them as it improves the batting. Siddons did a great job with the batsman and the results can be seen

[QazzarFan]

What do people think about Asia cup converting to T20 format especially if more teams join in the future

[freelance_cricketer]

QF, good idea but we can have a separate T20 Asian cup and keep the original version intact.

[ali85]

Originally Posted by QazzarFan What do people think about Asia cup converting to T20 format especially if more teams join in the future

Invite Pakistani players to IPL and there you go

[Blitz]

Delete the Asia Cup.


Bring back the Australasia cup. We get Aus/NZ added, to make the tournament a lot more exciting.


Hell, it can replace the CB series Australia hosts every other year which has about a billion matches.

Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


Make it a table, with each team getting 5 matches. Top 2 play a final, or best of 3. It will become very competitive. Bottom team doesn't get to participate in next Asia Cup, and is replaced by the next best Asian team. Afghanistan in this case.

Easy, loads of good teams, loads of great matches.

[freelance_cricketer]

That's a very good idea as well, sounds like a great tourney BUT the battle of Asian supremacy has its own significance.

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by freelance_cricketer That's a very good idea as well, sounds like a great tourney BUT the battle of Asian supremacy has its own significance.

Its been over 2 decades, and still no one cares about who won the Asia cup.

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by Blitz Its been over 2 decades, and still no one cares about who won the Asia cup.

Because it has only been India-Sri Lanka. I know this will sound like a troll comment to you from me but that's the way it has been. You have got these 2 teams winning 9 of 10 Asia Cups. That doesn't help things at all.

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by freelance_cricketer Because it has only been India-Sri Lanka. I know this will sound like a troll comment to you from me but that's the way it has been. You have got these 2 teams winning 9 of 10 Asia Cups. That doesn't help things at all.

I don't think 10 Pak/SL finals would have made a difference.


Australasia cup would work much better.

[freelance_cricketer]

We have a Champions trophy already. Currently i don't see room for an Australasia Cup. A stronger Asia Cup carries much more value.

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by freelance_cricketer We have a Champions trophy already. Currently i don't see room for an Australasia Cup. A stronger Asia Cup carries much more value.

Ofcourse theres room. Replace it with Asia cup........?


Also, Champions Trophy has been a great concept, but never lived up to the hype. I don't understand what keeps going wrong. I've always enjoyed every edition.

[freelance_cricketer]

Same, just cant have enough of ICC events. They are the jewels in ODI Cricket calnder. There is a lot of wishful thinking on your part there Blitz, i like the idea but do you seriously believe Australasia Cup is gonna return as a regular event?

[Anfield]

something which is played over a week only would always remain a joke.

It should be 2 weeks long.
Should be played after every two year NMW.
every team should play at least 2 matches against each other.
Better commentators.
More coverage and hype.

when above mentioned things are implemented it will automatically get intensified.

[amit]

teams like afghanistan, nepal, hongkong should also be included in the aisa cup. they are emerging teams and need more exposure. teams like uae & oman can stay out as they are dependent on imported players

6-team asia cup in 2014 & 2016 and 8-team asia cups after that would be the way to go

[amit]

also have the

euro cup - england, ireland, scotland, netherlands
africa cup - south africa, zimbabwe, kenya, namibia
pacific cup - australia, new zealand, png
americas cup - west indies, canada, bermuda

[freelance_cricketer]

We had none of the two historically dominant sides playing the final this time.


Things looking good. Was a great final. Bangladesh will have it's vengeance soon.

[Desi]

I don't think this BD fight will last, it depends on the performances on practically 3 players. One of those players starts going through a bad patch and stereotypical BD is back.

Hope I'm wrong, just don't see this intensity being maintained though. We all thought it would be maintained when Ashraful blitzed Australia in 05 but we all know how that turned out.

[Gattuso]

Originally Posted by ali85 Invite Pakistani players to IPL and there you go

but that still wouldn't be a battle between nations

Would prefer more teams and T20 format...would hate to watch a 50 over match involving Afghans vs anyone.. give them a chance to develop a little confidence with a few wins , T20 is the best format in this regard !

[Green Leopard]

Until Bangladesh don't win a Test series against the top 8 (home or away), then I can not say Bangladesh has emerged or to some extent reach the finals of either World Cups (t20 or ODIs)

[Saurav]

Originally Posted by Blitz Delete the Asia Cup. Bring back the Australasia cup. We get Aus/NZ added, to make the tournament a lot more exciting. Hell, it can replace the CB series Australia hosts every other year which has about a billion matches. Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Make it a table, with each team getting 5 matches. Top 2 play a final, or best of 3. It will become very competitive. Bottom team doesn't get to participate in next Asia Cup, and is replaced by the next best Asian team. Afghanistan in this case. Easy, loads of good teams, loads of great matches.

great idea

[PakPrince]

Originally Posted by Blitz Delete the Asia Cup. Bring back the Australasia cup. We get Aus/NZ added, to make the tournament a lot more exciting. Hell, it can replace the CB series Australia hosts every other year which has about a billion matches. Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Make it a table, with each team getting 5 matches. Top 2 play a final, or best of 3. It will become very competitive. Bottom team doesn't get to participate in next Asia Cup, and is replaced by the next best Asian team. Afghanistan in this case. Easy, loads of good teams, loads of great matches.

Might as well add England and WI and call it the World Cup

tbh I think that the Champions trophy is the first tournament that needs to be scrapped. considering that the world cup winner will also be from among the CT participants whats the whole point of winning that trophy??
With T20 WC, WC and ODI WC, pretty much every team wil get to call itself 'champions' eventually!

[munna_]

Asia cup certainly has the foundation of becoming something like football euro cup. But atm its just a sub-continent cup. More teams, multiple venues, and groups format are the factors that may make it appear larger in scale.

But then the contest level between the top test teams and minnows make it unattractive. That is one aspect where cricket really suffers on so many levels and its a different debate all together.

T20 format is definitely a considerable idea. Shorter format, uncertain results and increased upset probabilities, higher entertainment level, and smaller windows in ftp are ideal to accomodate it. Moreover, this tournie may also become the ice breaker as the only T20 tournament other than the World T20.