The 2010 Asia Cup is the first major international cricket tournament after the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, and for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and hosts Sri Lanka, serves as a dress rehearsal/testing ground for the 2011 World Cup in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Focus now shifts to 50-over cricket and working on the lessons learned from the Micromax Cup in Zimbabwe.

India - after disappointing campaigns in the Twenty20 World Cup and the Micromax tournament, India will be relieved to welcome Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Ghambir and Zaheer Khan back to the mix. They will be without Sachin Tendulkar (who asked to be rested) and Yuvraj Singh, dropped over concerns about his fitness and form. While Tendulkar's permanent place is without question, Singh will have to face competition from Saurabh Tiwary, the tall 20-year old who impressed with three half-centuries in the Indian Premier League. The more experienced players will be refreshed after the World Cup debacle, but might be rusty switching back into 50-over cricket - the selector's idea of a complete revamp of the team for the Micromax Cup meant that team that went to Zimbabwe will be almost completely different to the one that will play in Sri Lanka. India will look to disprove criticism that the IPL has made them soft and uncommitted to international cricket.

Bangladesh - after decent (but ultimately losing) performances in England, Bangladesh will look to cause more than a simple upset in the Asia Cup. Mohammed Ashraful returns to the side, but the pressure will fall on Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, who has lit up scoreboards with his attacking and dynamic strokeplay. Bangladesh will look to shrug off a disappointing Twenty20 World Cup campaign, and get their performances ready for the 2011 World Cup, which they will co-host. While not much is expected of them (either then or now), they will be expected to punch above their weight - they've had Test status for a decade, but still languish at the bottom of the world rankings table. If they want to acquit themselves with decent performances in front of their home crowds at the World Cup, the Asia Cup - which will be played in similar conditions to what they'll have at home - is the best place they can start. 

(contd.)