The Asia XI squad to face World XI was announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday. As predicted, the party comprises of various star players including Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Tamim Iqbal, Lasith Malinga, Mushfiqur Rahim, Rashid Khan, and Sandeep Lamichanne. The absence of Pakistan players, who are the current number one T20I team, could dent their chances of a win.
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However, unlike the World XI squad, which would be captained by Faf Du Plessis, BCB hasn’t named the skipper to lead the Asia XI team. Perhaps, with the inclusion of plenty of blockbuster athletes, BCB could have a tough time in picking the captain. Keeping in mind, the players in the World XI could also be a crucial factor in deciding the skipper.
We take a look at three players who could lead the Asia XI from the chosen squad:
Mahumudullah Riyad:
Bangladesh’s all-rounder Mahumudullah Riyad wouldn’t be a lousy choice to lead the Asia XI. He captained the national side in the T20 series in India back in November that almost beat the men in blue on their home turf. Despite being the underdogs and leading a depleted Bangladeshi team, the 35-year old lead the men with calmness and composure to give India a real scare.
While Mahumudullah may not be experienced and possess the captaincy record, BCB can appoint him as the leader. If elected, he can do an excellent job. The presence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Lasith Malinga along with his own all-round skills, further boosts his chances of excelling as the skipper.