Asia Cup 2018: Pakistan will Start as the Favourites - Sunil Gavaskar

Finally, the day has arrived for the Asia Cup 2018. Meanwhile, the analysts, critic masters and the fans across Asia are eager to watch the grand event. One of those, Sunil Gavaskar gives his voice on the prestigious trophy and a drop-down of interest on Asia Cup compared to the earlier generations.

The flamboyant batsman quoted the tournament has lost a bit of mojo in the cricket lovers after the emergence of T20 games across the globe. However, he feels that Asia Cup 2018 will be a competitive tournament with each team having their perks.

Its hard to understand why Sharjah isn’t hosting a single game – Sunil Gavaskar

Further, the stylish former India batsman recollected the memories when he led the young team to the title win at Sharjah. However, he is disappointed Sharjah isn’t hosting a single game this time during Asia Cup 2018.

He went on to say the players in both the team are eager to deliver for their teams. Hence, a competitive tournament is on its way. Adding to his lines, he also made his voice on how teams use Asia Cup 2018 for the 2019 World Cup.

”The Asia Cup may have lost a bit of its shine in the eyes of the cricket lovers of the region, thanks to all the T20 leagues that have cropped up all over the world, but make no mistake, the players of all the participating countries want to win the magnificent trophy to have the bragging rights in the region,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote for ToI.

”I was fortunate to lead a young Indian team to a win in the inaugural Asia Cup which was played in Sharjah, and it’s good to see that the tournament is back in the UAE, although strangely there won’t be any matches in Sharjah. The CBFS matches in Sharjah were the ones that lit the flame of cricket in the UAE, so it’s hard to understand why Sharjah does not have a single game,” he added.

It is a good warm-up for Asian team for ICC World Cup 2019 – Sunil Gavaskar

The legendary person furtherly added this would be the best chance for all the Asian teams to note down their pros and cons ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Meanwhile, he called Pakistan as the favourites to win Asia Cup 2018.

”Asia Cup 2018 gives the teams participating a good warm-up for the ICC World Cup. The more matches the teams play, the better their preparation. They will also get a fair idea of the areas they need to tighten up on before the World Cup. The teams can start bonding in these games. They will know who are the players who can take the pressure and who doesn’t quite have that fire in the belly to take his team forward,” Sunil added.

”Pakistan, the ICC Champions Trophy winners, start as favourites because not only have they got a well-balanced team, but they will be playing on their ‘home’ ground. The familiarity with the pitches and the weather conditions is always a plus and Pakistan will want to add the Asia Cup to their trophy cabinet. With their former charismatic captain as their country’s Prime Minister now, they will undoubtedly be inspired to give him the Asia Cup as a gift,” he inferred.

However, as Sunil Gavaskar wrote, Asia Cup 2018 will unlock the teams about their players’ confidence levels in the big tournaments. Meanwhile, it is interesting to see who emerges out as the winner.