India in Sri Lanka 2008: A closely contested series for fans

India is in Sri Lanka to play a three-match Test series and five one-day internationals against host Sri Lanka team. Test match will start from 23^rd July, 2008. Both teams will play a practice match on Friday 18 in Colombo before the 1^st Test match. Captain of both teams are keen to keep on their dominance over the series. Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene is confident that cricket fans can enjoy a Sri Lanka vs India rival match. No doubt, Mahela Jayawardene is a good batsmen and he is now in good form at this moment. This veteran player is now taking 9th position in the recently announced ICC Test ranking list. He has good performance against the tourist India team. Mahela Jayawardene made his Test debut against this opponent team 1997 and hit his career best 242 against them during the Asian Test championship match in 1999. Sri Lankan captain accumulate 7,478 runs in 95 Tests. The batting list of ICC is still headed by Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka. It is going to be an exciting series as both teams have some quality players. Both India and Sri Lanka played their last Test match in 2001 where India lost to Sri Lanka by 2-1 after a close contest.

This series can be memorable to Indian little master Sachin Tendulkar as he needs only 172 runs to break West Indian batting great Brian Lara’s world record of 11, 953 Test runs. It should be expected to see a fight between strong batting line up vs strong bowling line up. Indian batsmen have to face spin duo Muralitharan-Mendis. Indian bowler Anil Kumble is the highest-ranked Indian bowler at the eight-spot. Indian Test captain Anil Kumble is giving more priority about series win. On the other hand, Sri Lankan captain Jayawardene wants his team to play well. It is really tough to predict who will win the series.

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Asia Cup 2008 Final: Squad of India & Sri Lanka team

Both India and Sri Lanka are busy to take their last minute preparation ahead of the Asia Cup final. Only few hours are left to be held the final match between India and Sri Lanka. Both these two opponent teams will face each other at the National Stadium, Karachi. This match is scheduled to begin from 16:00 local time (10:00 GMT). Batting seems the main strength of India team. Top six Indian batsmen- Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh- are in top form. Depending on their bat India posted totals in excess of 300 runs in four of its five matches. Indian ODI captain MS Dhoni is expecting to provide another solid platform so that the middle order batsmen are under less pressure.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene is confident enough to get the title once again. Sri Lanka will look to their new spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis along with prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to defend its Asia Cup title against India on Sunday. No doubt, it is expected to see a hard clash between strong batting line up vs destructive bowling action. Their past glorious record where spinners Upul Chandana and Sanath Jayasuriya led Sri Lanka a 25-run win over India in the 2004 Asia Cup final in Colombo will encourage them to repeat it once again.

To snatch the title, they should select their best players in their main squad. However, I am giving squad of both teams in below:-

Squad of India team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Praveen Kumar, R.P. Singh, Ishant Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha, Manpreet Gony.

Squad of Sri Lanka team: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Thilan Thushara, Kaushal Weeraratne, Dilhara Fernando, Mahela Udawatte, Jehan Mubarak.

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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: 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: 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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