Asia Cup 2008 Final: Shoaib Malik predicted of an Asia Cup final but refused to name a winner

Only one day is left to be held the final of Asia Cup 2008 tournament. You already know the two participants name of the final round. Both India and Sri Lanka will face each other at the national stadium, Karachi. It is expected to see a hard clash between these two teams. Fans of cricket game are already started browsing on net to get more information about the match. Most of the fans search to know when the match will be shown. This match is scheduled to start at 16:00 local time (10:00 GMT). One common question can come up to your mind that is who will win the title. Being a top favorite and host team Pakistan has been eliminated from the final round. However, Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik predicted a cracker of an Asia cup final between India and Sri Lanka but refused to name a winner. Shoaib Malik said both are good sides and favorite for the title clash after his team trashed Bangladesh by 10 wickets. Pakistan team lost their chance after losing to Sri Lanka in Super Four round. He also said that pitches are very true and even chasing 300 runs has been like chasing 250 runs.

Both India and Sri Lanka are happy as Pakistan could not make up to the final round because they can be very dangerous side in front of its home crowd.

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Asia Cup 2008 Final: PCB allotted 10,000 tickets free to schools and cricket clubs

Tomorrow on 6^th July India will face Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final at the national stadium, Karachi for the title clash. Both teams will face each other at 16:00 local time (10:00 GMT). Ahead of the final match, Pakistan Cricket Board are expecting huge crowd on the stadium. However, the elimination of Pakistan team makes the Asia cup final of little importance to local fans. So, many fans will not interest to see the final match live on stadium. That is why, PCB and the provincial government will give away 10, 000 free tickets to students and cricket clubs to pull crowd for Asia Cup final. It is heard that tickets were distributed to schools and among the 173 clubs in Karachi. To bring and take back the spectators from stadium the government will run 32 buses from eight locations in the city. The official member also said they must show the world that they are sporting nation and watch the final what if Pakistan is not in the final.

PTI reported:

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, when asked for his reaction on the possibility of playing before a near empty stadium in the final, quipped, "Look there is nothing we can do about it but if we get visas then we can invite some people over from India to come and support us and watch the final." Meanwhile, the PCB official said the Asia Cup has been a success on the organisational front but it was important to get people to come and watch the final.

Most of the fans expected to see an India-Pakistan clash in the final match. However, I think many fans will come to see India-Sri Lanka clash to get some excitement and joy. Don’t miss the chance to see the match live because Murali-Mendis spin magic can trash India.

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Asia Cup 2008 Final: Can strong batting beat Sri Lanka?

The whole cricket world is eyeing to see the India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup final match which begins tomorrow at the National Stadium, Karachi. Fans of cricket game are expected to see an exciting and nail biting clash between them. No doubt, it should be stiff contention between them to snatch the title. Most of you are eagerly waiting to know that who will hold the trophy. It is really tough to predict. So, if you want to see the match winning team then keep watching from begin until the match will be end. MS Dhoni led India team will have to depend primarily on its batsmen in the final of Asia cup against Sri Lanka. The top six batsmen- Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh- are in good form. India team had to post totals in excess of 300 runs in four of its five matches. Indian skipper MS Dhoni will hope to his opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag to provide another solid platform so that the middle order batsmen are under less pressure.

Thaindian News reported:

The Indian bowlers have not made much of an impression on the batsman-friendly track at Karachis National Stadium, but the batsmen have chased down huge totals in the tournament so far.

The national stadium pitch is flat where bowlers have to struggle hard to get some assistance. Indian cricket team will be keen to improve their bowling and ground-fielding against the Sri Lanka.

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Asia Cup 2008 Final: Muttiah Muralitharan-Ajantha Mendis in driving seat

Tomorrow the final match of Asia Cup 2008 will be held between India and Sri Lanka at the National Stadium, Karachi. Fans of cricket game are eagerly waiting to see this much hype and exciting match live. It is expected to see a fight between highest time champion India vs defending champion Sri Lanka. The one of the most common questions is roaming not only the inner mind of cricket fans of both teams but also the whole world is that who will win the trophy. Both teams are strong enough to hold the title once again so; it is though to predict who will be the Asia Cup 2008 winner. However, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene looks to the 23-year old unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis with the company of prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the final match against India. His variation bowling action has baffled batsmen. This young bowler is the leading wicket taker with 11 dismissals from four matches. Spin attack should be the main strength of Sri Lanka team where experienced bowler Chaminda Vaas is push to take rest from their final Super Four match on Thursday. No doubt, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis should be the reason of headache for India’s top order batsmen.

Mahela Jayawardene is giving encourage Mendis to say that to go out there and enjoy his first final of his country.

Indian top order batsmen give their final test against strong spin attack. It is known to all cricket fans that India feel comfortable to play against spin bowl. Can Murali-Mendis stop India team?

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Asia Cup 2008 Final: India vs Sri Lanka will fight again

The ninth edition of Asia Cup 2008 cricket tournament will be end with the final between Sri Lanka and India on 6^th July. This much hype and thrill match will be held at the National Stadium, Karachi. You already know that this match is scheduled to begin at 16:00 pm Pakistan time (10:00 GMT). The good news for Indian people is that their favorite team India has qualified for the Asia Cup final after getting a must win over Sri Lanka. After winning the toss Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene elected to bat first and scored 308 for 8 in their allotted over. Chasing the target of 309, India reached the land mark with six wickets and 19 balls remain at hand. Top order batsmen of India team showed consistency and seemed stronger in this match. Half centuries from Gautam Gambhir (68), Suresh Raina (54) and M.S. Dhoni (67) helped to make 310 for 4 in 46.5 overs that shove host out of the competition. Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina made an unbroken stand of 57 and secured the victory. Now, both Sri Lanka and India will meet again in the final on Sunday.

The elimination of host Pakistan from the final round is good for both India and Sri Lanka because Pakistan can be very dangerous side in front of its home crowd.

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Asia Cup Cricket 2008: Squad of Pakistan team

Pakistan cricket team has geared up with their recent success of tri-series after beating India in the final match and claimed the title. Now, host team is busy with Asia Cup cricket 2008. Now, they are the most favorite team in this contest. Ahead of their first match against weak Hong Kong, The selection committee of Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday announced their probable squad. Some big names are missing from this squad. Recently, wicket-keeper cum batsman Kamran Akmal has been ruled out from the squad because of his poor performance. Now, Asia Cup has made a chance for young guns to play the senior players together.

Squad of Pakistan team: Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt, Younus Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Misbahul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Sohail Tanveer, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Nasir Jamsheed, Yasir Hameed, Bazeed Khan, Nouman Ullah, Mansoor Amjad, Saeed Ajmal, and Abdul Rauf.

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Asia Cup Cricket 2008: India-Pakistan clash raises ticket price

India-Pakistan clash is always special thing for cricket beloved fans. Millions of cricket fans passionately wait for this match. After tri-nation series, both these two arch-rival are going to face each other in the Asia Cup cricket 2008. You already know that these two have been scheduled to play in the same group-B. India and Pakistan will face each other on June 26 at the National Stadium in Karachi. Ahead of the match PCB authorities have fixed the highest ticket price at Rs 2700. The rise of ticket price has been fuelled by Shoaib Malik led team’s recent tri-series win over India in Dhaka.

Press Trust Of India reported:

"Look the Indian team is always a salable side in international cricket and it is no surprise everyone wants to cash in on their popularity and standing," Saleem Qazi, the senior marketing executive of a leading group said.

The last time India toured Pakistan in 2006, the highest ticket price for an ODI in Karachi was Rs 2000.

The Rs 2700 price range has been set for the top enclosures named after Hanif Muhammad, Javed Miandad and Fazal Mehmood.

No doubt, it is unbearable for the middle class people. And for the highest price of ticket many people may not be able to see the match live on stadium. Interestingly, the PCB has fixed relatively low ticket price for other matches of the Asia Cup. The lowest ticket price of India-Pakistan encounter in Asia cup is Rs 100 whereas normally the general people enclosures tickets cost Rs 50.

Pakistan will face Hong Kong in their opener match on 24^th June where highest tickets price is Rs 500 same price has also been set for India-Hong Kong clash in Karachi.

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Asia Cup Cricket 2008: Live Online Updates

For the live updates of India vs Pakistan match ball by ball, click this link- India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Super Four: Live Score and Updates

The ninth edition of Asia Cup 2008 tournament has only three days left to start. For the first time this tournament is going to take place in Pakistan in June 2008. Six teams are expected to take part in the tournament. Asia Cup cricket will start from June 24 and will end up to July 6, 2008. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UAE, and Hong Kong are participating in the 13-day continental tournament. Karachi will host 10 of the 13 matches while three matches will take place in Lahore. All matches will be played in day-night basis. All the matches of Asia Cup cricket will be broadcast live on ESPN and STAR Cricket.

India-Pakistan rival match has come back with this tournament. Both teams will fight against each other in group round. Most of you already know that both these two rival teams have been scheduled to play in group-B. Weak and out form Bangladesh team is also ready to make another upset. Another strong South Asian team Sri Lanka has possibility to get the trophy. However, it is thought that host Pakistan team is hot favourite in this tournament. So, it is tough to say who will win the trophy.

June 2008 is not a good time for cricket. Then it seems to see a fight between Asia Cup cricket 2008 and EURO 2008. The second biggest football tournament EURO 2008 is going on. And cricket is less popular game than football. So, cricket may fail to overcome the margin of popularity of football. Then I know many of you are excited to see the match live. Pakistani famous sports channel Geo Super will broadcast all the matches live and exclusive. Then many of you many not be able to enjoy your favourite team’s match live ball by ball. That is why, I am giving some cricket based websites name where from you will get live updates and latest news-

Cricinfo

action8cricket

cricketlivelinks

123india.com

cricketnext

cricbuzz

liveuktv

AOL Cricket

Cricketline

Expressindia

cricketzone

Sify sports

I hope you can enjoy your favorite team’s match ball by ball from these websites.

Dear reader who will win the Asia Cup 2008 trophy?

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Asia Cup Cricket 2008: ATN-Cricket Plus will broadcast matches live in Canada

For three million people of South Asian, East Asian and Arabic heritage, Asian Television Network Limited has acquired exclusive broadcast right from ESPN STAR Sports for Asia Cup Cricket 2008 in Canada. It will be an interesting to see that young players will play along with senior and experienced players. The matches will be broadcast live and rebroadcast between CBN and ATN Cricket Plus. The ninth edition of Asia Cup will commence from June 24, 2008. Six Asian teams will take part in this tournament. They are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Hong Kong. The three sides in each group play each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the second phase, where they will again play each other once. The India-Pakistan conflict comes again with this tournament where we can see them to fight each other once again.

It is quite sure that Asia Cup Cricket 2008 will be an exciting international series for South Asian heritage cricket fans and will entertain cricket loving fans who have made their home in Canada.

For further information or subscribe about CBN and ATN-Cricket Plus, please visit- www.asiantelevision.com.

Asia Cup Cricket 2008: Will Manpreet Gony debut?

Right arm medium-pace bowler Sreesanth has been ruled out of the Asia Cup due to his injury. Tall medium pacer Manpreet Gony will replace this place. Sreesanth played for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. He suffered a side strain during the final match against Rajasthan Royals. Because of his strain injury, he missed tri-nation series against Pakistan and Bangladesh. Now, Sreesanth has failed to prove his fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He has been advised for two weeks rest.

Press Trust of India reported:

"According to BCCI Physio Paul Close at NCA, Sreesanth was declared unfit for Asia Cup. His bowling rehabilitation programme will start on June 23 and he requires further two weeks of rehabilitation before full recovery," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said in a release.

Manpreet Gony, who has showed his brilliant performance in the IPL and caught the attention of national team selectors, is waiting to make his debut in one-day cricket. Can he replace Sreesanth?