Asia Cup 2016 - Team of the tournament

Indian captan, MS Dhoni with the Asia Cup 2016 trophyThe 2016 edition of the Asia Cup was played for the first time in the T20 format ahead of the ICC World T20. It was a tournament where all the Asian sides could experiment with their sides and find the right combination ahead of the World T20.Carrying on the form from the series in Australia and the home series against Sri Lanka, India were the clear favourites right from the start of the tournament. And the men in blue proved that right as they lifted their sixth Asia Cup title, the highest for any side.From the start of the Asia Cup qualifiers, there were many exciting fixtures and even more exciting performances from various individuals, giving their respective sides an extra edge over their opponents.Here we take a look at eleven of the best players across all the teams, even the ones that featured in the qualifiers, and form a team of the Asia Cup 2016:

#1 Dinesh Chandimal (Wk) - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka did not have a very good campaign in the Asia Cup as they finished just above UAE in the table. The only match they won was against UAE, the only Assoicate Nation in the tournament.

Despite their lowly performance, one silver lining from the tournament was the form of wicketkeeper-batsman, Dinesh Chandimal. Chandimal is Sri Lanka's man for all seasons and this tournament proved just that as he opened the batting for his side alongside veteran, Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Although Chandimal did not keep wickets in all the matches, he was the highest run-getter for Sri Lanka in the tournament. In 4 matches, Chandimal scored 149 runs at an average of 37.25 and a strike rate of 109.55, which are quite good numbers of what were mostly pitches that assisted the bowlers more.

#2 Babar Hayat - Hong Kong

Despite playing only three matches, in the Asia Cup Qualifiers, the 24-year-old Babar Hayat from Hong Kong finished the tournament as the highest run-getter.

Hayat scored 194 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 64.66 and a strike rate of 160.33. He scored a century and a half-century in the qualifiers of the tournament. Hayat scored 122 off 60 balls in Hong Kong's first match against Oman in the Asia Cup qualifiers, albeit in a losing cause.

Ahead of the World T20 qualifiers, Hayat's form in the top order of the batting lineup will be key for Hong Kong if they are to make a surprise entry into the main tournament.

#3 Virat Kohli (Captain) - India

There is no doubt about who bats at No. 3 in the team of the tournament after his impressive showing throughout the Asia Cup – Virat Kohli.

Kohli has been India's best batsman in all the matches that India have played in 2016. In the four innings that the 27-year-old played in the Asia Cup, he has scored 153 runs at an outstanding average of 76.50 and a strike rate of 110.86.

Although he might have scored only one fifty in the tournament, Kohli was the main player in the Indian batting lineup, especially relishing the matches that India chased in. His overall average in chases in T20Is is 84.22 proving how crucial a player he is for India in achieving the set target.

#4 Sabbir Rahman - Bangladesh

Bangladesh made their second ever appearance in the final of the Asia Cup after defeating both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The hosts’ limited-overs form has been quite impressive since the 2015 ICC World Cup.

One of the main reasons for their recent success is the form of their middle order batsman, Sabbir Rahman, who has been revelling in the No. 3 spot that he occupied in the Bangladesh lineup.

Rahman's 176 runs in five matches at an average of 44.00 gave him a richly deserved Man-of-the-series award for Asia Cup. Scoring at a strike rate of 123.94, Rahman has done a commendable job in building and setting the tone for the Bangladesh innings after a disappointing showing by the openers.

#5 Shoaib Malik - Pakistan

Just like Sri Lanka, Pakistan also did not have a particularly good Asia Cup as they won only two matches, losing against India and Bangladesh. With the top order rarely firing, the onus was on the middle-order to repair the damage.

Shoaib Malik was the mainstay of the Pakistan middle-order as he notched up 121 runs in four matches at an average of 60.50 and a strike rate of 112.03. Malik makes the team of the tournament, just ahead of his teammate, Sarfaraz Ahmed, who also scored 121 runs.

What edged Malik over Sarfaraz is the important knock of 63* he played against UAE after the top-order was blown away by the UAE bowlers. Malik, along with Umar Akmal, ensured that there were no more hiccups and helped their side avoid an embarrassing loss. Malik also picked up two wickets for his side in the tournament.

#6 Mahmudullah - Bangladesh

Although Mahmudullah never had a very impressive record in T20Is, he seems to have found himself in the shortest format of the game following his performances in the Asia Cup.

Batted in multiple positions throughout the tournament, the 30-year-old never complained and happily went about his business of scoring runs for his side. In five matches, Mahmudullah scored 121 runs at an average of 121.00 and a strike rate of 165.75, highest for any batsman who scored more than 100 runs in the tournament.

On tracks that were not at all easy to bat on, the Bangladesh all-rounder batted with attacking intent and helped propel his side to healthy scores and helped chase down targets, most famously in the must-win game against Pakistan. He also did his part with the ball as he picked up 4 wickets at an average of 7.00 and an economy rate of 4.66.

#7 Hardik Pandya - India

Bowlers had a huge role to play in the Asia Cup as the pitches were tailor-made for them. Hardik Pandya, the young and confident Indian all-rounder, has been impressive since making his international debut.

Pandya finished the Asia Cup as India's highest wicket-taker notching up 7 wickets in 5 matches. In his first series, in Australia, Pandya conceded at more than 6 an over. However, the 22-year-old was able to make good use of the conditions and bowled at an average of 14.71 and an economy rate of 5.88.

The young all-rounder from Baroda considers himself a batting all-rounder, but, he did not get a lot of opportunities with the bat in the Asia Cup. His knock of 31 off 18 balls in the first match against Bangladesh was vital in India being able to post a challenging total on board.

#8 Mohammad Naveed - UAE

Mohammad Naveed was only one of the the three bowlers to have picked up 10 or more wickets in the Asia Cup. The bowler from UAE picked up one wicket lesser than his captain, Amjad Javed, but Naveed was more economical than Javed which gives him a place in the team of the tournament.

Naveed picked up 11 wickets in 7 matches with an impressive average of 13.18 and at an economy rate of 5.24. In the T20I format, any economy rate less than 6 is brilliant and Naveed kept things tight from his end for his side with his medium pace bowling.

#9 Al-Amin Hossain - Bangladesh

With Mustafizur Rahman having been ruled out of the Asia Cup due to an injury after the first match, it was upon one of the remaining bowlers to take up the responsibility of being the frontline bowler for Bangladesh.

Al-Amin Hossain seemed to be up for the challenge as he turned out to, arguably, be the best bowler of the tournament. He finished as the joint second highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets from just 5 matches at an average of 12.18. In three of the five matches – against India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan – Al-Amin picked up three-wicket hauls proving his worth to his side.

#10 Mohammad Amir - Pakistan

Only having recently returned to cricket after a gap of five years, Mohammad Amir showed why he was touted to be the next best thing after Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis from the Pakistani ‘bowling factory’.

Amir was impeccable in his line and length and regularly troubled the batsmen, taking full advantage of the helpful conditions in Mirpur.

In four matches that he played, Amir picked up 7 wickets at an average of 11.57 and an economy rate of 5.06. Amir had the best bowling average and the best economy rate for any bowler who picked more than 5 wickets in the tournament.

Pakistan will be hoping for similar performances from the 23-year-old in the forthcoming World T20 if they are to go all the way.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah - India

Jasprit Bumrah has been a revelation for India since he made his international debut in Australia. Bumrah was quite sensational on the flat tracks that Australia had prepared for the T20Is.

Bumrah continued his good form in the Asia Cup too as he was the second most economical bowler in the Asia Cup after Mohammad Amir. In 5 matches, Bumrah picked up 6 wickets at an average of 15.66 and an economy rate of 5.22.

What makes the 22-year-old a special talent is his ability to keep the batsmen quiet in the death overs. Bumrah has given Indian fans hope in that finally the national side has a bowler who can trouble batsmen even in the death overs.