Captains say Asia Cup will give World Cup pointers
DUBAI: Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will have an eye fixed firmly on the 2019 World Cup when they face each other in the opening Asia Cup clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Defending champions India, who have won the Asia Cup six times, are led by dashing opener Rohit Sharma as regular captain and world’s top batsman Virat Kohli is rested after a gruelling tour of England recently.
Sri Lanka, hot on India’s heels with five titles, two-time winners Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and qualifiers Hong Kong complete the line-up.
Sharma said although a lot cricket is to be played between now and the World Cup, to be held in England from May 30 to July 15 next year, the Asia Cup can help in the build-up.
“In a way you can say that [the Asia Cup is a build-up] because every team wants to go to the World Cup wanting to know their combination,” Sharma said at a press conference on Friday. “But having said that it is important to focus on the job at hand rather than think too far ahead. All the teams and players have a great opportunity to do well and stake claims for the World Cup squad.
“I won’t understand how Angie [Angelo Mathews], Sarfraz [Ahmed] or Mashrafe [Mortaza] are looking at it and what their strengths and weaknesses are. But as the tournament progresses, we will understand what teams are doing,” Sharma added.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed described the event as a ‘journey towards’ next year’s tournament in England.
“Yes, there are still eight months to the World Cup and we have to play a lot of cricket before that. But yes the Asia Cup is a continuation of the journey towards the World Cup,” Sarfraz said.
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews and Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza described the Asia Cup as the process towards the World Cup.
“It’s a process and in a tournament like this we have to find the right combination with an eye on the World Cup,” said Mathews.