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Mon Mar 11
13:00 PST | 08:30 GMT 1st ODI – Bangladesh vs Pakistan
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Tue Mar 13
14:30 PST | 08:30 GMT 2nd ODI – India vs Sri Lanka
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Thu Mar 15
13:30 PST | 08:30 GMT 3rd ODI – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Fri Mar 16
14:30 PST | 08:30 GMT 4th ODI – Bangladesh vs India
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Sun Mar 18
13:30 PST | 08:30 GMT 5th ODI – India vs Pakistan
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Tue Mar 20
13:30 PST | 08:30 GMT 6th ODI – Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Thu Mar 22
13:30 PST | 08:30 GMT Final ODI – TBC vs TBC
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

India might be completely down and out after their dismal show in the recently-concluded tour of Australia but former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels that MS Dhoni and Co. would still start as favourites in the Asia Cup, starting today in Mirpur.

“After their CB Series run, the Lankans will be upbeat. If Pakistan can play as a team, then they are unbeatable. But India remain the best team on paper. They have the depth in batting, the variety in bowling.

“In their last game in the CB Series against the Lankans, India showed what they are capable of. When a team chases 320 runs and wins with seven wickets and 80 balls to spare against a quality opposition, it acts like elixir. Will this tonic boost India in Dhaka. Probably,” said Akram.

The former fast bowling legend though added that it is going to be thrilling championship as India will be desperately looking to come back to winning ways against the likes of Sri Lanka who are high on confidence after their recent show in CB Series in Australia, and Pakistan who are unpredictables as ever.

“MS Dhoni and Co. will certainly look to overturn their topsy-turvy performance in the just-concluded CB Series in Australia and Sri Lanka have shown the world what they are capable of. Add to this Pakistan’s susceptibility to surprise on any given day means the
Asia Cup has all the ingredients to become a thrilling championship,” said Akram.

He also said it would be interesting to see how Dhoni, Mahela Jayawardene and Misbah-ul Haq lead their teams.

“All three are capable men but right now, Mahela is the best captain in the world. Mahela’s captaincy in the CB Series was astute and he is a leader any country would love to have. I want to see how he leads the Lankans in Asia Cup.

“In ODIs, if you want to take wickets, then you have to put pressure on the opposition and that’s Mahela’s beauty. He knows where to deploy his fielders and when to attack. He is natural leader who has matured with time,” Akram was quoted as saying in ‘espnstar.com’.

Comparing Dhoni with Jayawardene, Akram said, “Mahela and Dhoni are different captains. Dhoni is a wicketkeeper it is difficult for him to guide the fast bowlers all the time.

“But Mahela fields at mid-on or mid-off and is constantly chatting with his bowlers and changing fields. Mahela is very attacking in nature and is always looking for breakthroughs.”

The 45-year old speedster said he would be keen to watch the Indian team without their hard-hitting opener Virender Sehwag.

“It will be interesting to see an Indian team without Virender Sehwag. Numerous stories on Sehwag’s ‘dropping’ have done the rounds in the media but in my book, Sehwag is too good a batsman to be ignored. If he is short on fitness, then it is another thing, but Sehwag remains a dangerous customer on sub-continental conditions,” said Akram.

“Having said that, Sehwag needs to change the way he deals with his career at the age of 34. With Rahul Dravid gone and Sachin Tendulkar unlikely to prolong his ODI career, Sehwag needs to play the role of the elder statesman in the team.

“Dhoni remains India’s best leader at the moment and sooner Sehwag realises this, the better. Hence, Sehwag needs to be at peace with him, focus purely on his fitness and the runs shall follow. In cricket, only performance matters and if Sehwag scores the runs he can, fans will automatically adore him,” he added.

Courtesy: FIRSTSPOT.SPORTS

McKay won many admirers after his stupendous spell in Australia’s 16-run win over Sri Lanka in the third final of the CB Series in Adelaide, including Akram, who was impressed with McKay’s usage of slower deliveries as variations on Thursday. Man of the match McKay came up with a career-best 5 for 28 to hamper Sri Lanka’s run-chase of 231.

“McKay was too good with the slower ones. He was bowling so many of them and looked quite innocuous yet hard to pick. I think all of the Australian fast bowlers in their ODI side, Brett Lee, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson, must learn this trick from McKay,” said the former pace Moghul.

The ESPN STAR Sports commentator displayed his ‘hawk-eye’ when he described the way the Victorian dismissed Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene. “It was a different kind of slower ball which McKay bowled to clean up Jayawardene. Not the back of the hand delivery. He held the ball back into his palm and released it with the same force like his usual stock fast delivery. The only thing is that it comes real slow from the hand and Mahela was totally bamboozled. Great skill!” added Akram.

However, Akram was not anticipating an Aussie win once the hosts were all out for 231. “I thought it would be a simple win for Sri Lanka once they got 232 to chase. Instead, it was excellent captaincy from Shane Watson who handled his bowlers and fielders really well,” said the cricket expert.

After trouncing the hosts comfortably by eight wickets in the second final on the same surface two days back, it was a perfect chance for the islanders to claim their first-ever tri-series win in Australia. Akram feels their choice of fielding first on a used track could have been better.

“On a track which was used in the previous game, in such a big final, you are better off putting a total on the board rather than chasing. Yes, their batting is on form but in a do-or-die game if you are chasing 230-240 it gets trickier. The target is neither here nor there. They were excellent chasing down 272 the other day because they had to start attacking from the first ball. But I think here the decision to bowl first cost them,” he said.

The 45-year-old was all praise for injured Australian skipper Michael Clarke and advised him to not rush his return to the side. “Michael has captained really well in the series. He is in excellent form with the bat. My advice to him will be to not rush back from his injury. He should rest and recuperate fully from that hamstring injury and only then think of coming back. Australia will not miss him that much against the West Indies who are not the strongest of teams,” Wasim concluded.

Australia travel to the West Indies on Friday for the five ODI, two T20I and three-Test series, starting March 16.

By Joshua Nath
Courtesy: ESPN STAR

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels the appointment of Virat Kohli as India’s vice-captain for the Asia Cup will “hurt” senior players such as Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

Kohli was on Wednesday named M S Dhoni’s deputy for the upcoming tournament, to be held in Bangladesh and Akram feels senior players won’t be happy as they were eyeing captaincy.

“It is a tough job to be India’s vice-captain. I feel senior players like Sehwag and Gambhir will not be happy with this. Kohli has showed his true potential on this Australian tour and emerged as a candidate for vice-captaincy.

“The Indian selectors are probably thinking about the 2015 World Cup and if Dhoni is unfit before that, Kohli would be the right man to replace him. But, this will definitely leave Sehwag and Gambhir hurt as they were waiting for captaincy,” Akram was quoted as saying by a website.

Akram had recently stated that Kohli needed “at least five years more” to become the Indian cricket team’s leader.

Even as Kohli was made vice-captaincy after his heroic knock against Sri Lanka in the CB series, Sehwag was ‘rested’, according to selection committee chairman Kris Srikkanth.

“Maybe the Indian selectors are not bold enough to drop a player like Sehwag. I do not think this is the right attitude. Until and unless you drop someone, how will the hunger to do well and make it back into the team be visible in a player?

“The concept of ‘resting’ an out-of-form player never made sense to me and it baffles me again. A player plays or he is dropped, it’s simple,” Akram said.

The legendary pacer said that Sachin Tendulkar should look to score his 100th international century during the Asia Cup and then quit the 50-over format.

“There is pressure and stress on Sachin to get that milestone. If he can score this hundred in Asia Cup and get the monkey off his back, then he must look to quit ODIs and concentrate only on Tests,” Akram said.

“He should then play Test cricket in a relaxed manner. This will also give chance to younger players to build the team ahead of the 2015 World Cup.”

As far as Ashok Dinda’s selection was concerned, Akram was pleased.

“He runs in and I like his attacking attitude as a fast bowler. I think justice is done that his domestic performance has brought him back into the team. He took wickets for Bengal in one-dayers and he showcases the firepower that Bengalis are known for.”

Akram did not back the Indian selectors’ decision to rest promising pacer Umesh Yadav.

“Perhaps the selectors are looking to develop him into a Test bowler like Ishant Sharma. But this is not right decision as you cannot expect a 24-year-old like Umesh to be tired after one series. You need to play a genuine pacer to win games, in both Test and ODIs, more so when you tour abroad.”

“It is good that India have unearthed a quickie in Umesh who will be kept in the mix for the future. However, I am disappointed with Varun Aaron. It seems he is never fit. Hope Umesh and Aaron don’t end up like RP Singh and Munaf Patel.

About Zaheer Khan, Akram said the left-arm seamer should consider his future in the shorter format.

“I think it is time for him to consider his future in the shorter format. He did exceptionally well in the four Tests against Australia but his body is not supporting him in ODIs. As for his selection, you can pick and choose which games you want to play on tour and which you do not wish too. If you are picked, then you must play all games.

“Again, I think India do not know how to make long-lasting fast bowlers. I remember Imran Khan used to toil with us by making us bowl continuously for a long time. For Zaheer, he must choose his format now.

Akram was also delighted to see Yusuf Pathan returning to the squad.

“Yusuf Pathan is 29 years now and I still don’t know why he was not picked for so many games. Here is a hitter who is feared by most attacks in the world and he was dropped for a long time. I feel if India are looking at the 2015 World Cup then Yusuf Pathan must definitely remain in the scheme of things.”

Courtesy: Times of India

Ex-Pakistan skipper slams lack of application by Indian batsmen and says Dhoni must not blame the toss.

With India’s dreams of clinching a finals’ berth in the CB series only a mathematical possibility, Wasim Akram wants Indian selectors to emerge wiser from the Australian experience.

The squad for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh will be named on Wednesday and Akram feels Indian selectors must let their head rule and not their emotions.

In an exclusive chat with Mobile ESPN from Hobart on Monday, Akram says he is deeply saddened with India’s performance and Tendulkar is surely feeling the pressure of expectation in every game.

Akram suggests Tendulkar should quit ODIs to take the pressure off him. The Pakistan legend added the Little Master should now concentrate only on Test cricket.

“I feel Tendulkar should leave one-dayers and concentrate on Test cricket in order to make things easy for the selectors. The Indian selectors can never dare to drop Tendulkar even if he goes on performing badly.

“So Tendulkar should take a call on himself. Hundreds will still come by for Tendulkar in the longest format of the game and he should not worry about that,” said Akram.

Akram slammed India’s top batsmen for the 87-run defeat at Sydney on Sunday. Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar have managed to get just one half-century opening partnership in place among them. Akram is sad to witness a lack of application by the top guns.

“The Indian batsmen have made a mockery of themselves. The top-order is not willing to stay at the crease. Sehwag and Tendulkar have been getting out in the first few overs. How can you chase a target like this?” asked Akram, adding winning or losing the toss did not matter. “Dhoni is making a lame excuse,” Akram said.

Lying at the bottom of the tri-series table, India need to win big against Sri Lanka and hope that Australia outplay the islanders in order to have a mathematical chance of making it to the finals. Akram blames it on the lack of planning.

“Only Umesh Yadav has generated enough pace on bouncy Australian wickets. Irfan Pathan and Praveen Kumar have even failed to get a good carry. The Indians have failed to plan and strategise. It’s too late on this tour but they should certainly look ahead now,” Akram concluded.

by: Faisal Kamal
Courtesy: ESPN STAR

HOBART: Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram has backed Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s controversial rotation policy, saying that there is “good reason” behind the move as senior players are either “not in his control” or they have become a “liability”.

Dhoni’s remarks about senior players being slow fielders has triggered speculation that there are dissensions in the Indian dressing room.

Wasim said Dhoni’s comments are an “absolutely genuine” opinion. “In my opinion, Dhoni is a very intelligent person and I totally agree with him because he says what he thinks. There must be a very good reason behind his comments because I have never heard Dhoni speaking in such a manner,” he said.

“I think either the seniors are not in his control or they are a liability.”

The former Pakistan captain feels Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag will have to be physically fit to sustain themselves in the ODI format from now on.

“As the grounds are big in Australia, players have to be in the best of their health to play. Nobody questions Tendulkar’s fitness, either you see him fielding at short third-man or fine-leg. You can hide your fielders in Test and T20s but not in ODIs,” Wasim explained.

He also questioned the role of coach Duncan Fletcher in team selection.

“If I am the coach, I will send the best batsman to open the innings. Gautam Gambhir has scored in 90s twice in the series so far and he is the best opener available. It is up to the team management to decide who will be his opening partner,” commented Wasim.

Courtesy: DAWN.COM

Former Pakistan skipper feels Dhoni is either finding seniors players difficult to manage or wants to phase them out.

Even if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) denies that there is any dissention in Team India, someone very close to all the ‘action’ feels otherwise. Wasim Akram, who is part of the ESPNSTAR Sports’ commentary team Down Under, says MS Dhoni’s reactions on ‘slow’ players in his team is an indication of disgust and ‘absolutely a genuine’ opinion.

Speaking to espnstar.com from Hobart on Wednesday, Akram felt there can’t be any smoke without fire. Dhoni, who is fervidly backing his rotation policy, had indicated that slow and sloppy senior players forced the team management to employ the batting cycle at the top. The skipper clearly hinted that Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were not the best of fielders in ODIs.

Akram agrees to Dhoni’s views. Even if Sehwag hit back at Dhoni’s reactions, Akram said: “In my opinion, Dhoni is a very intelligent person and I totally agree with him because he says what he thinks. There must be a very good reason behind his comments. I have never heard Dhoni speaking in such a manner.”

Akram feels Dhoni might be struggling to handle the seniors and wants to phase them out of the team. “I think either the seniors are not in his control or they are a liability,” he said.

The former Pakistan captain, who is no stranger to team politics and dissent, feels Tendulkar and Sehwag may be the Gods of cricket but they will have to be physically fit to sustain themselves in the ODI format.

“As the grounds are big in Australia, players have to be in the best of their health to play. Nobody questions Tendulkar’s fitness, either you see him fielding at short third-man or fine-leg. You can hide your fielders in Test and T20s but not in ODIs,” Akram added.

Akram also questioned the role of coach Duncan Fletcher in team selection.

“If I am the coach, I will send the best batsman to open the innings. Gautam Gambhir has scored in 90s twice in the series so far and he is the best opener available. It is up to the team management to decide who will be his opening partner.

“That will also give you a left hand-right hand combination. In the match against Sri Lanka we saw both the out-of-form batsmen opening the innings and your best is coming at No.3. So, what is the use of keeping a coach when he is not able to decide?” fumed Akram.

Food for thought for the BCCI for sure. Fletcher has certainly used Dhoni to his advantage. But it’s time the former Zimbabwean showed his worth as a shrewd tactician.

Courtesy: ESPN.STAR