Asia Cup 2018: 5 players who might be playing their last Asia Cup

Asia Cup 2018 is just around the corner, and the respective teams have started their preparations for the tournament. The league will unfold from 15th of September in the UAE. This Asia Cup will turn out to be important for many players who will be targeting it as a platform to cement their place in their respective squads for the upcoming World Cup in 2019.

The Asia Cup 2018 will be featuring six teams, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. The league matches will be played in two groups of three each.

Although many players will be playing the Asia Cup for the first time, there will also be some senior cricketers who might be playing this very tournament for the last time in their career.

Hence, without further ado, let us have a look at five players who might feature in the Asia Cup for the very last time in their career.

---

#1 Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh)

Mashrafe Mortaza, fondly known as the Narail Express, has been one of the best pacers in the history of Bangladesh cricket. With an ability to generate extra bounce, Mortaza has been an influential part of Bangladesh cricket for a long time now.

However, his career has had many impediments due to injuries.

Having already completed 34 years and being in the latter part of his career, Asia Cup 2018 might turn out to be the last edition for Mashrafe in his illustrious career.

The Bangladeshi captain has taken 245 wickets in ODIs. Scalping five more wickets, Mashrafe will become the first Bangladeshi bowler to take 250 wickets in ODIs.

#2 Lasith Malinga (Srilanka)

Lasith Malinga, one of the best pacers in limited overs cricket, is at the fag end of his career. Known for lethal yorkers, Malinga made his name as the best death overs bowler in the limited overs format. Nevertheless, recent injury developments and loss of form had caused his exclusion from the Sri Lankan line-up.

But, Malinga managed to get a place in the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. With age and fitness not on his side, Malinga might call it quits before the next edition of Asia Cup which will take place in 2020 at the earliest.

Lasith Malinga has scalped 301 wickets in ODIs. He is the fourth highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in ODIs.

#3 Shoaib Malik (Pakistan)

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistani legend, has been one of the vital players in the Pakistani ODI team for a long time now. Having amassed 7015 runs in ODI cricket, Malik is the eighth highest run-scorer for Pakistan in ODI cricket. Moreover, he has also been a decent bowler for Pakistan, with more than 150 ODI wickets to his name.

Malik happens to be the only cricketer in this list who will certainly not be part of the next edition of Asia Cup, as he has already stated that he will retire from international cricket after 2019 World Cup.

#4 Dinesh Karthik (India)

Dinesh Karthik was one of the many keepers that India tried in the Ganguly-era before the advent of MS Dhoni. Nevertheless, having been in and out of the Indian team, and in the limited opportunities he has had, he has delivered very well behind the stumps as well as with the bat.

With many talented and determined wicket-keepers (well, not as good as MS Dhoni), it seems quite inevitable that Karthik will be a long-lost affair in the post-2019 World Cup era. Thus, with a good crop of wicket-keepers on the inch, Karthik might not feature in the next edition of Asia Cup.

#5 MS Dhoni (India)

One name whose entry on the list will raise many eyebrows is MS Dhoni. Undoubtedly, Dhoni has been a legend of the game. With an astute mind and exceptional game reading abilities, MS Dhoni is definitely one of the best players in the history of cricket. Although he has struggled in the recent past to rake up runs, he remains a key player for India in the upcoming Asia Cup as well.

However, with age not on his side (well, fitness has never been his problem), MS Dhoni might not be a part of the next edition of Asia Cup.

To be fair, Dhoni has been the kind of player who will silently walk away when he feels that his time has come. Thus, though most people would want him to feature in the next edition of Asia Cup, Dhoni might hang up his boots just after the completion of 2019 World Cup.