Prior to the Asia Cup, we look at the batters who could end up at the top of the runs-scoring lists by the time the competition is over.
The Asia Cup 2022 is about to start this weekend in the UAE, and during the competition, some of the top T20 cricket batters of the present day will attempt to destroy the bowling lineups of the opponent. The Indian and Pakistani teams are loaded with powerhouses, while teams like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka can all claim players who can rack up long runs.
NDTVCricket looks at the hitters who can finish at the top of the runs-scoring statistics by the time the tournament is over in the weeks leading up to it.
1) Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain has been trading the top spot on the leaderboard for runs scored in T20 Internationals with Martin Guptill of New Zealand. As this is essentially a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup later this year, Rohit would want to lead by example in his first significant competition as captain. He is one of the top candidates to finish the event with the most runs thanks to his ability to score within boundaries and accumulate large totals.
2) Babar Azam: The Pakistani captain is currently the buzz of the town and is the best T20I batter in the world. Babar is without a doubt a gentleman and has a tremendous appetite for running. He has abandoned the casual in his batting over the past two years and embraced the routine to achieve the spectacular. For him, the series might be won or lost in the India game.
3) Mohammad Rizwan: Last season, the Pakistani wicket-keeper hitter was in a world of his own, but he hasn’t yet reached those lofty heights this year. However, Rizwan at the top of the lineup has the power to crush the rivals, particularly on advantageous courses.
4) Hazratullah Zazai: Zazai is the top hope for the Afghans with a lifetime strike rate close to 150 and a T20I century to his credit. If he begins hitting the big strokes, he will be difficult to contain.
5) Shakib al Hasan: He is once again in the leadership of the squad, and to succeed, Bangladesh’s greatest cricketer ever will need to set the example in every area. They have advanced to the final at three of the previous four Asia Cups and would like to advance this time.
