Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said that his unbeaten knock of 72 against Sri Lanka has done his confidence a world of good after an indifferent series against England.
Images from Asia Cup match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan being played in Mirpur.
Pakistan produced a clinical display to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets and storm into the final of the Asia Cup. Their second successive victory put them in the final of the tournament for the first time in 12 years.
India would look to continue their recovery from the horror tour of Australia while Sachin Tendulkar would aim to the get the burden of a 100th international ton off his back when the team squares off against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup league match in Mirpur on Friday.
Even though India comfortably won their Asia Cup opener against Sri Lanka by 50 runs, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that it is 'difficult' to defend totals at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur considering it has a 'very fast outfield'.
Pakistan survived a scare before pulling off a narrow 21-run victory over Bangladesh on Sunday and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said his team needs to learn from their mistakes and lift their game if they have to threaten India and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.
Images from the Asia Cup opening match between Pakistan and Bangladesh played in Mirpur on Sunday.
Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed struck half centuries but it was Umar Gul's late blows towards the end that lifted Pakistan to 262-8 in the opening match of the Asia Cup against Bangladesh in Mirpur.
India might be completely down and out after their dismal show in the recently-concluded tour of Australia but former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels that MS Dhoni and Co. would still start favourites in the Asia Cup, that commenced in Mirpur on Sunday.
Senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar would eye his 100th international century and also improve his position in the ICC ranking for the ODI batsmen when Asia Cup begins in Mirpur on Sunday.
The 11th edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament begins in Mirpur on Sunday with defending champions India hoping to redeem their pride and restore their reputation after the debacle in Australia.
Australia speed merchant Brett Lee will return to bolster Kolkata Knight Riders' attack ahead of their Indian Premier League match against Rajasthan Royals on Friday.
Along with the world record for most sixes in an innings, Shane Watson also erased the mark for most fours, against Bangladesh in the second ODI, says Rajneesh Gupta.
Ahead of the three-match series, here's the schedule and key stats between the teams.
With Ashish Nehra fracturing his finger in the semi-final against Pakistan, captain M S Dhoni hinted that the Kerala pacer could get the nod ahead of R Ashwin.
Pakistan scored an empathic 10-wicket win over the West Indies in the first quarter-final of the World Cup, reaching a target of 113 without losing a wicket and a whopping 175 balls to spare.
The latest ICC ODI batsmen rankings have mixed news for India. Virat Kohli remains second while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni slipped a place to ninth, even as India maintain the second spot in the team standings.
'He was calling for a run and I wasn't listening to him,' explained Virender Sehwag, talking about the Tendulkar's dismissal in the World Cup match against Bangladesh.
While attending Mahendra Singh Dhoni's presser ahead of India's opening match against Bangladesh in Mirpur one was reminded of Kolkata.
'We had that confidence and the belief came from the last two to three years. Not many have been watching us but we were quietly doing our job'
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has received an official reprimand for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his side's five-wicket win against Pakistan in their Asia Cup clash in Mirpur on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli has been fined 30 per cent of his match fee for showing dissent at the umpire after being adjudged lbw during his side's Asia Cup T20 match against Pakistan in Mirpur.
Even as the 2011 World Cup nears the business end -- beginning with the opening quarter-final between Pakistan and West Indies in Mirpur on Wednesday, it is time to look back and recall a few performances that defined the opening stage.
Statistical highlights from the World Cup match between South Africa and Bangladesh played in Mirpur on Saturday.
Rajneesh Gupta gives us all the dazzling numbers.
Shamar Springer's unbeaten half-century steered West Indies to a thrilling three-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the semi-finals and set up a title clash against India, in Dhaka, on Thursday.
The facts and figures relating to the Group B World Cup match between India and Bangladesh (1400 IST) at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka on Saturday.
Images from the World Cup quarter-final match between South Africa and New Zealand.
It will be hard to catch up with Afridi now! After another incredible bowling performance on Wednesday at Mirpur (9.3-1-30-4), Afridi is now over 200 'runs' clear of Yuvraj Singh in the MVPI list.
A look at the India's biggest wins in Tests (by innings margin).
The West Indies scored one of the quickest wins in the World Cup when they beat Bangladesh by nine wickets in their Group B match in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Friday.
An Indian Mujahideen terrorist, suspected to be involved in the German Bakery blast of Pune in 2010, has been arrested from Kolkata, the police said.
Play will be continued from where it stopped on the scheduled day of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final if it spills over into the reserve day, as per the playing conditions of the tournament.
South Africa have released captain AB de Villiers from their one-day international squad in Bangladesh ahead of the three-match series starting in Mirpur on Friday.
Hurling short-pitch stuff at the Indian batsmen was part of Bangladesh's bowling plans as the visitors are known to be vulnerable against such deliveries, Bangladeshi pacer Shahadat Hossain said in Mirpur on Monday.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the numbers on India's biggest Test triumphs, Virat's victories and Ashwin's achievements.
With exactly six months to go for the 2011 World Cup Bikash Mohapatra does a check on Team India readiness for the event.
Star spinner Harbhajan Singh rubbished reports that India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his deputy Virender Sehwag had a tiff over Amit Mishra's exclusion from the Mirpur Test against Bangladesh.
India's iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar and fast bowler Zaheer Khan returned to the top 10 of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship after the two-Test series against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Wednesday. Tendulkar, who started the second Test in 13th position, jumped four places to ninth after hitting his 45th career century.
