Asia Cup 2022: Rating Teams based on performance in group stage

The preliminary stages of the Asia Cup 2022 came to an end on Friday (September 2). India and Afghanistan topped their respective groups winning both of their games whereas Pakistan and Sri Lanka grabbed a victory to progress to the Super Fours. Bangladesh and Hong Kong did not have much going for them in this tournament and hence, were knocked out. Teams batting first seem to have struggled to set totals but India and Pakistan showed how it's done. Afghanistan were quite clinical in their performance whereas Sri Lanka did just enough to make it to the next round. Here we have rated teams based on their showing. Let us see how the teams fared in the group stages. Rating teams based on performances in group stage in Asia Cup 2022 6. Hong Kong - 4/10 Hong Kong came into the tournament riding high on confidence. They had an unbeaten run in the Asia Cup qualifiers and would have hoped to pose a tough challenge to the top-ranked teams. However, Nizakat Khan & Co. despite showing a lot of promise, were unmatched against the Asian Giants India and Pakistan. The Hong Kong bowlers did well to contain the batting-heavyweights in the first half of the innings. The likes of Ehsan Khan and Yasim Murtaza were excellent in particular. However, their death bowling was below par and the bowlers leaked a lot of runs at the latter stages of the innings. Talking about their batting, the batters did pretty well to reach a total of 152 against the Men in Blue. Babar Hayat was quite impressive as well. However, in their second game, they were completely decimated by the Pakistan bowling attack and were bundled out for a mere total of 38. 5. Bangladesh - 5/10 A team comprising veteran players and promising youngsters failed to put on a perfect game. They were good in patches but that did not prove to be enough. As a result, they suffered an early exit from the competition. Mosaddek Hossain was the stand-out player for the Bangla Tigers and portrayed his finishing prowess. The likes of Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz too played entertaining knocks. But their veteran trio of Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, and Mushfiqur Rahim failed at the big stage denting Bangladesh’s chances. The bowling unit was good in phases but was unable to maintain constant pressure. They succumbed at crucial junctures and the mediocre performance from their pace-spearhead Mustafizur Rahman also did not help. 4. Sri Lanka - 6/10 Sri Lanka after getting thrashed by Afghanistan had just enough in the tank to qualify for the Super Fours. They had a lot of proven T20 match-winners on their side and would have hoped for a better show. The likes of Kusal Mendis and skipper Dasun Shanaka getting amongst the runs was one major positive for Sri Lanka. Chamika Karunaratne proving his credentials as an allrounder was also great to see. However, the lack of runs from Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka would be a concern for Dasun Shanka & Co. The bowling department is heavily reliant on the spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana and the inexperience in the Lankan pace attack has been quite evident. Dilshan Madushanka had a decent outing against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would hope for the 21-year-old to carry on the good work at the latter stages of the competition. 3. Pakistan - 7.5/10 Pakistan despite losing a game has performed quite decently in the group stages. Their bowling has been the joint-best in the competition. Though the Men in Green have stuttered with the bat, they seem to have improved game after game. Naseem Shah who made his debut in this tournament was quite impeccable with the ball, especially in the powerplay. The spin duo of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz have done great at strangling the opposition in the middle overs. In the batting department, Mohammad Rizwan has been among the runs in both games. Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah coming back in form has been a good sign for the Men in Green going forward. However, the cautious approach of Pakistan's batters in the early phases of the innings has been a point of concern. Also, their skipper Babar Azam has not found his mojo yet, the management would hope he gets back to form at the business end of the tournament. 2. India - 8/10 India are the defending champions having won the previous edition in 2018. Rohit Sharma & Co have been unbeaten in the group stages but their performances have been not as per their standards. The No.1 ranked T20I side won a last-over thriller courtesy of all-around Hardik Pandya whereas Suryakumar Yadav's imperious knock got the Men in Blue out of jail in the Hong Kong game. Hardik and Suryakumar continuing on their rich vein of form has been a big plus. Also, Indian ace-batter Virat Kohli coming back amongst the runs has been a big boost for a team with the T20 World Cup around the corner. Bhuvneshwar has been at his consistent best and carried the mantle of the Indian pace attack. However, Rohit Sharma & Co. has some areas of concern. KL Rahul has been quite scratchy in the two games and also on the bowling front, Avesh Khan has looked out of sorts. Yuzvendra Chahal not being amongst the wickets has also dented India in the middle overs. 1. Afghanistan- 9/10 Afghanistan has been quite clinical in both of their games. The bowlers have been excellent in restricting the opposition to a modest score and the batters have sealed the game in style. The Mohammad Nabi-led side won two games out of two and are playing some outstanding cricket of late. The ace spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, and Nabi have strangled the opposition with their variations. The pace department has been well led by Fazalhaq Farooqi. When it comes to batting, the Afghan openers have displayed their big-hitting prowess. They stuttered in the Bangladesh game but the veteran batter Najibullah Zadran soaked in the pressure and played a blistering knock to get his side over the line. One could argue that Afghanistan have not been tested against the heavyweights India and Pakistan. Also, they have bowled first in both games and it could be seen as an advantage on the pitches in the UAE where setting totals have been difficult. Despite the above two facts, Afghanistan have been playing some great cricket and could threaten to punch above their weight in the upcoming stages of the tournament.

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Asia Cup 2022: Rating Teams based on performance in group stage

India and Afghanistan have topped their respective groups winning both of their games.

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