Hosts to take on Hong Kong in opener
Monday, 23 June 2008
KARACHI, Jun 22 (AFP): Title holders Sri Lanka and former champions India and Pakistan will be locked in a three-way battle when the continent's prestigious Asia Cup cricket tournament starts here Tuesday.
All three Asian giants are missing frontline bowlers but still look the only contenders to win the six-nation event, which also features Bangladesh and qualifiers United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.
Sri Lanka, winners of the title three times, are without Lasith Malinga who has been injured since March, and Farveez Maharoof who suffered a side strain on the eve of team's departure for Pakistan.
Four-times champions India are badly depleted in their bowling attack with Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth injured, and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh serving a five-match ban on discipline charges.
A groin injury has also ruled out their star batsman Sachin Tendulker.
Pakistan miss Mohammad Asif who returned home after a 19-day detention in Dubai on charges of possessing illegal drug and faces an internal inquiry.
His pace partner Shoaib Akhtar is serving an 18-month ban over discipline violations.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said it looked a three horse race.
"Asia Cup traditionally pits India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a three-way battle and although conditions in these countries are the same, we have slight home advantage," said Malik, whose team beat India to lift a tri-series in Bangladesh on June 14.
The win, Malik feels, gave Pakistan a confidence boost.
"We are high on spirits after the tri-series win in Bangladesh but we have to play well to cash on to that," said Malik, whose country is hosting the event for the first time since its inception in 1984.
Pakistan have won the Cup once, also in Bangladesh in 2000.
The hosts take on Hong Kong here in a Group B match Tuesday. India is the third team in the Group. On the same day Bangladesh meet UAE in Lahore in Group A, which also has Sri Lanka.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the super league where each side will play each other to decide the July 6 finalists.
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene said he hoped his team could overcome a slump in form which has seen them lose four of five one-day series since finishing runners-up to Australia in the World Cup last year.
"We have not been in the best of forms in the last few months, but this is another opportunity to show what we are capable of. The fact that we are defending champions makes this competition even more special," said Jayawardene.
All three Asian giants are missing frontline bowlers but still look the only contenders to win the six-nation event, which also features Bangladesh and qualifiers United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.
Sri Lanka, winners of the title three times, are without Lasith Malinga who has been injured since March, and Farveez Maharoof who suffered a side strain on the eve of team's departure for Pakistan.
Four-times champions India are badly depleted in their bowling attack with Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth injured, and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh serving a five-match ban on discipline charges.
A groin injury has also ruled out their star batsman Sachin Tendulker.
Pakistan miss Mohammad Asif who returned home after a 19-day detention in Dubai on charges of possessing illegal drug and faces an internal inquiry.
His pace partner Shoaib Akhtar is serving an 18-month ban over discipline violations.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said it looked a three horse race.
"Asia Cup traditionally pits India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a three-way battle and although conditions in these countries are the same, we have slight home advantage," said Malik, whose team beat India to lift a tri-series in Bangladesh on June 14.
The win, Malik feels, gave Pakistan a confidence boost.
"We are high on spirits after the tri-series win in Bangladesh but we have to play well to cash on to that," said Malik, whose country is hosting the event for the first time since its inception in 1984.
Pakistan have won the Cup once, also in Bangladesh in 2000.
The hosts take on Hong Kong here in a Group B match Tuesday. India is the third team in the Group. On the same day Bangladesh meet UAE in Lahore in Group A, which also has Sri Lanka.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the super league where each side will play each other to decide the July 6 finalists.
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene said he hoped his team could overcome a slump in form which has seen them lose four of five one-day series since finishing runners-up to Australia in the World Cup last year.
"We have not been in the best of forms in the last few months, but this is another opportunity to show what we are capable of. The fact that we are defending champions makes this competition even more special," said Jayawardene.