Why the Asia Cup 2010 Needed an India Pakistan Final

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Sreelata YellamrazuJun 21 2010

It may seem a little harsh conjecture for the hosts Sri Lanka to uplift the Asia Cup through an India v Pakistan match. But the fact of the matter is that cricket is battling not only the FIFA World Cup 2010 but also, the Wimbledon fortnight, which is already robbing an insipid Asia Cup brought alive by the contest between warring neighbours.

gautam gambhir and kamran akmal come face to face

One had only to look at the manner in which the tournament came alive once the lack of hype gave way to the cricket match on the field. Runs flurry, wickets tense, and glory galore beckoned both teams, and India edged Pakistan by simply holding their nerve.

But with the viewership prior to the game not looking promising, and the Asia Cup 2010 hitting another low, there were indications that this India Pakistan match would not garner as much enthusiasm amongst fans as on previous occasions. But the percentage that did watch the game, not as many on previous occasions but enough to ensure that the contest lived up to its billing, the game provided the much needed fillip that the tournament needed.

But as is difficult in these situations, the match not only provided another opportunity for the two teams to settle scores but also, meant that only one would go through to the finals and as it turned out, India qualified for the final against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, as hosts, would naturally garner local interest, but it is apparent that even with the host nation part of the final expedition, an India Pakistan final would plausibly eclipse it for a couple of reasons.

For one, there are next to no battles that garner as much attention as when India play Pakistan, even with the England Australia ODI series, even by their own admission, the Ashes would eclipse the one day contest any day. In such a scenario, the India Pakistan final is a win-win situation for all. That Pakistan then underperformed to not make it there is their own doing.

While being fair to Sri Lanka and not disassociating their value, there is a need for the BCCI and the Sri Lanka Cricket board and subsequently, the Asian Cricket Council to consider the spacing out of series between India and Sri Lanka which have become too close to create a demand for it. Overworking this Asian association may be working against the Asia Cup and against future bilteral series, some of which will be once again on witness when the Asia Cup concludes.

At a time when the Wimbledon begins its annual hallowed fortnight, cricket, especially the Asia Cup, did not need the distraction, already given that the football World Cup has been the rage and the ill timing of the Asia Cup has not helped the ACC achieve its purpose, Bangladesh are not really helping their cause, getting walloped match after match and the lack of upcoming teams such as Afghanistan cricket have also meant that the ACC needs to relook at its tournament.

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