Asia XI vs World XI: 15-Member Probable Squad Of Asia XI

The cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the upcoming two-match Asia XI – World XI series in Bangladesh to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of their Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The two-match series will take place on March 18 and 21, 2020 in Mirpur. Both the games will have international status.

The Asia XI will feature players mostly from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that no players from their country will take part in the series. Meanwhile, BCCI has confirmed they will allow five top cricketers for the series. Meanwhile, top Indian cricketers are unlikely to travel as they will be busy with international commitments.

Otherwise, top cricketers from other nations are expected to travel Bangladesh for the series which will also witness top cricketers from the globe to turn up for World XI.

We at Cricket Addictor will take a look at the 15-member probable Asia XI squad for the Asia XI – World XI series:

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Tamim Iqbal

The senior Bangladeshi batsman has been their leading run-scorer for quite some time now. Opening the innings, Tamim Iqbal has the ability to launch an attack against the bowlers and score runs at a healthy strike-rate.

The veteran batter has been in excellent form in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League and will look to put runs during the exhibition game.

Soumya Sarkar

Soumya Sarkar is predominantly a top-order batsman, but his seam bowling has been termed as more than useful by many cricket experts across the globe. He came up the age-groups with consistent performances before making it to the senior team.

However, he has mostly remained inconsistent, which has hurt Bangladesh on many occasions. The southpaw will look to make this opportunity count and prepare himself with the ICC T20 World Cup looming large.

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik fell on the wrong side after India’s shocking ouster from the ICC World Cup 2019. He has been mostly inconsistent during his comeback in the Indian team which made the selectors look for other options in the middle-order.

But the upcoming three-match series between Asia XI and World XI can change his future with the ICC T20 World Cup and India struggling with the finisher’s spot. These exhibition games followed by IPL 2020 will help Karthik to be in the good book of the selectors.

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey has been a regular feature in the limited-overs squads since the ICC World Cup 2019. He was a part of the playing XI against West Indies but failed to make the most of the opportunity and since then, had to wait in the wings for another chance.

He has been in exceptional form in the domestic circuit and will be desperate to make this opportunity count. With a lot of cricket to be played in the coming days, the senior batsman will hope to be in the Indian playing XI.

MS Dhoni

The former India skipper has been on a sabbatical ever since India bowed out of the semifinals of the ICC World Cup in England. The two games as a part of the exhibition series will be a perfect platform for the veteran wicket-keeper batsman to stage an international return ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.

MS Dhoni will be a star attraction during the series involving Asia XI and World XI. The illustrious cricketer will look to make the most of the opportunity.

Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim has been a vital cog in Bangladesh’s growth across formats and has led the batting unit from the front. When he was picked as a substitute wicket-keeper for the tough series in England, Rahim was only 16 years. But he showed character, and since then, has worked tirelessly to take the country’s cricket forward.

The occasion of these exhibition matches will work as an additional motivation for the Bangladeshi cricketer including Mushfiqur, who will look to put his best feet forward for Asia XI.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has struggled with injury since the Asia Cup 2018 and had to undergo surgery following the ICC World Cup 2019. Currently, he has started his recovery process and will return to action soon.

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 lined up in Australia, Pandya will look to bounce back strongly, and the upcoming series between Asia XI and World XI will be the perfect platform for the young cricketer to prove his fitness and slot back in the national team.

Thisara Perera

A bustling right-arm seamer and sporadically effective left-handed hitter, Thisara Perera has been a globetrotter playing T20 leagues across the world. His hitting abilities, well-matched by a happy knack of picking wickets, make Perera a utility cricketer in the shortest format.

Perera, who is in the twilight of his career, will look to showcase some of his skills and impress the Bangladesh crowd during this Asia XI- World XI tie.

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Mohammad Nabi

An efficient allrounder – a strong middle-order batsman who can bowl flighted offspin – Nabi’s rise, like Afghanistan’s, has been staggering. He has been at the centre of the side since their time in the ICC’s World Cricket League Division Five, from where Afghanistan began their rise to the international stage.

The stalwart of Afghanistan cricket will seek this opportunity as a platform to share the dressing room with some of the finest cricketers and will hope to pick their brain. Nabi will also wish to perform to the best of his abilities and entertain the crowds.

Rashid Khan

The leg-spinner from Afghanistan has grown in strength ever since he made an appearance in international cricket. He soon showcased his skills and earned deals from all the big leagues of the world. Rashid Khan also developed his batting skills which have made him a valuable all-rounder in the shortest format.

Mashrafe Mortaza

Mashrafe Mortaza, who is synonyms to injuries, has been a quintessential figure in Bangladesh. Although he has missed more game than he has played, Mortaza was the first genuine fast bowler to emerge from Bangladesh since their entry into Test cricket in 2000. He was also an able leader and played a significant role in their country’s growth in the game.

With Mortaza on the verge of his career, he will be keen to give all his might and impress at the biggest cricketing event in Bangladesh when star cricketers from across the globe will come to Asia to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation.

Yuzvendra Chahal

The leg-spinning wizard Yuzvendra Chahal has been one of India’s leading spinner since 2017. Since making his mark in the IPL playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chahal didn’t have to look back and continued his excellent form for the national colours.

Chahal will look to use these games to prepare for the IPL to follow and subsequently the T20 World Cup. With many star cricketers likely to appear in the World XI, it will be a tough ask for the Haryana-based spinner.

Sandeep Lamichhane

Sandeep Lamichhane has continued to make the most of good fortune at every opportunity to come his way. Spotted by former Australia skipper Michael Clarke during Hong Kong, the young spinner grew from strength to strength.

By January 2018, Lamichhane had cemented his status as a rising star within the Nepal set-up. Later that year, he followed it up with an IPL deal, and since then, there is no stopping him. Lamichhane will look to use the stage and grab eyeballs at the biggest cricketing stage.

Isuru Udana

Isuru Udana is a talented left-arm fast-bowling allrounder, whose variety and changes of pace have seen him appear sporadically for Sri Lanka’s T20 side. Capable of moving the ball off the seam, Udana is possessed of a number of slower balls, including one out of the back of his hand that has brought him some success at the top level.

The left-arm pacer, who has bagged his first-ever IPL deal, will look these games to prepare for arguably the best franchise-based league across the globe.

Lasith Malinga

The veteran fast bowler from Sri Lanka, Lasith Malinga is one of the greatest exponents of the game. His ability to hit yorkers at will and fox batsmen with slower deliveries makes him one of the smartest fast bowlers in the limited-overs.

Malinga will lead the pace attack of Asia XI and will be keen to show some of the sparks of his golden days against the modern-day cricketers.