Six nations will compete for cricket's Asia Cup from Wednesday, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.Won by Sri Lanka a year ago over the T20 format, this year the Asia Cup reverts to 50 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is also a final chance for Asia's cricketing giants to size each other up before October's World Cup in India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Four with the leading two in the standings contesting the final in Colombo on September 17.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Here's how the tournament shapes up:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Group A<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n -- The top-ranked team are co-hosts with Sri Lanka after a hybrid model was agreed because of India refusing to play in Pakistan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan, who rose to world number one after sweeping Afghanistan 3-0 last week, will stage four matches with the remaining nine, including the final in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ODI ranking: 1<\/p>\r\n\r\n Captain: Babar Azam<\/p>\r\n\r\n Key players: Babar Azam (batsman), Shaheen Shah Afridi (left-arm fast bowler), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper-batsman)<\/p>\r\n\r\n Asia Cup best: Winners 2000, 2012 (both 50-over)<\/p>\r\n\r\n India<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n -- The cricketing powerhouse have won more Asia Cups than anyone and enter the tournament as favourites as they go for an eighth title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ODI ranking: 3<\/p>\r\n\r\n Captain: Rohit Sharma<\/p>\r\n\r\n Key players: Virat Kohli (batsman), Hardik Pandya (all-rounder), Jasprit Bumrah (fast bowler)<\/p>\r\n\r\n Asia Cup best: Winners 1984, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2010, 2018 (50-over) and 2016 (T20).<\/p>\r\n\r\n Nepal<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n -- Making their debut, Nepal face a baptism of fire against India and Pakistan. Reached the World Cup qualifiers earlier this year, but failed to qualify for the 50-over showpiece.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ODI ranking: 15<\/p>\r\n\r\n Captain: Rohit Paudel<\/p>\r\n\r\n Key players: Aarif Sheikh (batsman), Paudel (batting all-rounder), Sandeep Lamichhane (leg-spinner), Aasif Sheikh (wicketkeeper-batsman)<\/p>\r\n\r\n Asia Cup best: Debut 2023<\/p>\r\n\r\n Group B<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Bangladesh<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n -- The Bangla Tigers have made it to three Asia Cup finals without winning and have had a difficult build-up with captain Tamim Iqbal and missing the tournament with a back injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ODI ranking: 7<\/p>\r\n\r\n Captain: Shakib Al Hasan<\/p>\r\n\r\n Key players: Shakib Al Hasan (batting all-rounder), Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper-batsman), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (all-rounder)<\/p>\r\n\r\n Asia Cup best: Runner-uo (50-over) 2012, 2018, (T20) 2016<\/p>\r\n\r\n Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n -- The co-hosts have been a force in the tournament, lifting the trophy six times. They triumphed last year in Dubai, when the Asia Cup was played as a Twenty20 tournament, but have been hit by injuries for this edition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ODI ranking: 8<\/p>\r\n\r\n Captain: Dasun Shanaka<\/p>\r\n\r\n Key players: Kusal Mendis (opener), Dhananjaya de Silva (all-rounder)<\/p>\r\n\r\n Asia Cup best: Winners (50-over) 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, and (T20) 2022<\/p>\r\n\r\n Afghanistan<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n -- On their Asia Cup debut in 2014, Afghanistan won their second match against Bangladesh and with their potent spin attack can on their day pose a threat to the top teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ODI ranking: 9<\/p>\r\n\r\n Captain: Hasmatullah Shahidi<\/p>\r\n\r\n Key players: Rashid Khan (leg-spinner), Mohammad Nabi (all-rounder), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (off-spinner)<\/p>\r\n\r\n