Current Asian ODI XI

Cricket must have been originated from Englandor France, who knowsbut it is in Asia where the game is oozed with every single breath. There is a country where a billion people follow the sport like a religion and then there is another country where queues form in front of ticket counters TWO days prior of it opening.Such is the passion of the sport here that it can be seen being played in almost every street that consists of a small space of land.Playing Asian teams also generates more money as the viewership in Asia is more than anywhere else. Some of the finest cricketers in the world are from this continent and it is of little wonder why Asian players are among the most revered in the world of cricket.So with all that in mind, here is an XI consisting of Asias best players CURRENTLY (this list is based purely on current form and current form only).

#1 Tillakaratne Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan is the 4th highest run getter in 2011

The flamboyant Sri Lankan has been in fine form this year as he stands 4th in the highest run getters of 2015. With an average of 59 and an astonishing 1003 runs in only 18 innings, he can be dubbed as the best Asian batsman of the year.

His knock of 161* against Bangladesh in the World Cup completely displayed the type of form he is in and the type of style he bats in: dominating. With a cool head on his shoulder, he oozes reliability at the top of the order and will open for the Asian XI, if there was such a team in existence.

And his partner in crime would be the second active Asian player next on the top runs-getter list…

#2 Soumya Sarkar

Soumya Sarkar has delighted fans with his impressive displays with the bat

Perhaps the most naturally gifted player that has emerged from Bangladesh since Mohammad Ashraful, Soumya Sarkar has delighted fans with his impressive displays with the bat. His incredible performances against South Africa and Pakistan have given him a place in the hearts of millions of Bangladeshis.

With 672 from 15 innings, he has been the devastating opener that Bangladesh so desperately needed. His ruthless innings of 127* against Pakistan in the ‘Banglawash’ match displayed sheer class as he executed some breath-taking stroke-plays all around the park.

If he can keep converting the starts he gets on a consistent basis, he could go down as Bangladesh’s greatest ever batsman.

#3 Azhar Ali

Being a Pakistan ODI cricket team fan now could be quite frustrating. After some dismal performances in the year of 2015, the number of disgruntled fans have grown. But amidst all this, there is one ray of hope—and that ray is Azhar Ali.

The 30 year old has a remarkable average of 59.36 from the 11 games that he has played his year, scoring a breath-taking 653 runs in the process. The fact that he is not a single not-out innings to his name speaks volumes about the consistency with which he scores big runs in every game.

The number 3 position is safe because of the assured nature with which he bats.

#4 Mahmudullah

Mahmudullah has been a crucial figure for Bangladesh this year

The Mr. Dependable of Bangladesh. As Bangladesh qualified to the knock-out round of World Cup for the first ever time in their history, the man who played the most significant role was none other than Mahmudullah Riad.

He became the first ever Bangladesh to score a century in a World Cup game—and he did it twice. The game he couldn’t perform to his level, Bangladesh lost and were thus knocked out of the tournament—stating his importance to the team.

This year, the talented batsman scored 441 runs in just 11 innings with a very impressive average of 44.10. What makes these runs more special is that over 70% were scored in winning causes and at a crucial time of the innings.

#5 Shakib al-Hasan

Shakib’s presence has transformed the Bangladesh side into a winning unit

This selections needs no justification. Currently the best all-rounder in all three formats of the game simultaneously, Shakib would be among the first names even if the list was to compile XI best players in the world.

Shakib is not the first talented player to emerge from the land of green, but he is definitely the first to have an incredible work-ethic that has been the root of the current hardworking nature of the Bangladesh cricket team.

With him in the side, there are effectively 2 players in 1 as he adds great quality to both batting and bowling of the team.

#6 Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur’s presence in the middle order has given Bangladesh stability

Among all the active wicketkeepers in Asia, he has had the best year so far. His stats are nothing short of incredible and is a clear testament to how much he has improved as a cricketer since his arrival in the international scene.

With just 13 innings of batting under his belt, he has scored a mammoth 611 runs with an average of 50.91 average and at a blistering rate of 103.03 runs per 100 balls. His presence in the middle order has given Bangladesh stability and reliability—something they lacked so much prior to his coming of age.

With the kind of form he is in, he would make it into the World XI as its wicketkeeper batsman, let alone Asia.

#7 Angelo Mathews

Angelo Mathews is the spine of the Sri Lanka team currently

One of the finest pace bowling all-rounder there is in the game right, Angelo Mathews is the spine on which the hopes of the Sri Lankan cricket team stands.

Having him in the team gives the Lankans assurances about scoring some more runs or getting some more wickets or both. His consistency has been great and it is for this reason that he is the current captain of the Sri Lanka team.

Averaging 34 with a strike-rate of above 80 while scoring 381 runs in the process, his batting has been good, especially considering that he comes in the lower-middle order. But it his bowling that is more impressive as he has taken 13 wickets in 16 innings with an average of a respectable 30.

#8 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has given batsmen the most headaches

India were once known for their spin power. When Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were at the peak of their powers, few batsmen could face them and say that they could read their bowls accurately.

However, after the retirement of Kumble and Bhajji’s perpetual decline, India found themselves in a position of extinction in the spin department. And then Ravichandran Ashwin turned up—and he hasn’t looked back ever since.

The Indian has been the best Asian spinner in ODIs and he has stats in his favour to back that claim. Taking a respectful 20 wickets in just 12 games with an average of 25 and an economy rate of 4.32 runs per over, he has constantly troubled batsmen and has maintained himself as the Indian bowler who gives batsmen the most headaches.

#9 Wahab Riaz

Wahab Riaz is one of the most difficult bowlers to face

Wahab Riaz bowled one of the finest spells ever by a fast bowler against Australia at the World Cup. He was frightening, his short balls absolutely knocked Shane Watson off-guard and his aggressive nature intimidated the batsmen.

And it is that fiery aggression that makes him one of the toughest bowlers to deal with—and his stats this year, so far, has just shown that.

Clocking speeds in the late 140s with a speckle of regularity, he has taken a praiseworthy 25 wickets in just 13 games with an average of 24. His economy rate, though, is little on the expensive side with 5.4 runs per-over, but that is negligible considering his wicket-taking ability at regular intervals.

#10 Mohammad Shami

Mohammad Shami is India’s latest anwer to their fast bowling connundrum

India’s premium fast bowler, Mohammad Shami has been India’s most consistent bowler since coming to the scene some years ago. Many fast bowlers came and went, be it Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan or Munaf Patel, but this man has cemented his spot in the team with some fine sense of line and length.

India’s bowling department isn’t considered as one of their strongest assets, but he stands out here as he has taken 19 wickets this year in only a mere 11 games with a fabulous average of 20.63. His economy rate is also a miserly 4.77 and there can be little debate regarding his ability to make life harder for batsmen.

#11 Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman has burst onto the scene after the 2015 World Cup

The revelation of the year. If it weren’t for him, Bangladesh might not have won the ODI series against India and South Africa. One could almost say that his slower ones were what put both the Proteas and the Men in Blue to the edge of the sword.

Playing just 6 matches this year, he has taken a frightening 18 scalps at an average of an unbelievable 12.61–that puts him on par with the deadly Mitchell Starc. His best performance came against India as he ripped their batting line up to shreds, picking up a career best 6/43.

It’s not that he just takes wickets, he also has a brilliant economy rate of 4.25, making it really hard for the batsmen to score against him.