Asian XI start favourites

BANGALORE, June 4: Going by the strength of the teams, Asia should win the Afro-Asia Twenty20 match hands down. This will be the first Twenty20 international in the sub-continent, where the shorter version of the cricket is yet to enthuse cricket buffs. Led by Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik, the Asian XI players would surely look to live up to their billing.Twenty20 is the game of the big-hitters and the Asian team has them aplenty.
If the performance of Pakistani players Afridi and Imran Nazir against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi is anything to go by, the Bangaloreans can look forward to some fireworks. Add to this the talented Mohammad Ashraful, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tamim Iqbal and the recipe is almost complete. Ashraful, who scored a blistering half century in the second innings of the second Test against India, can flay any attack on his day. With Mashrafe Mortaza coming good with the bat the Asian team looks pretty much balanced.
Sreesanth, recovering from a calf injury that forced him out of the Bangla tour, will be the sole Indian. This would be the first major test for the re-laid pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Asia XI 'A': Shoaib Malik (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imran Nazir, Mohammed Ashraful, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzak, Farveez Maharoof, Mashrafe Mortaza, Sreesanth. Manager: Sultan Rana. Coach: Roger Binny. Physio: John Gloster.
Africa XI 'A': Alex Obanda, Morris Ouma, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Tanmay Mishra, Goolam Bodi, Thandi Tshabalala, Albie Morkel, Morn'e Morkel, Loots Bosman, Keith Dabengwa, Tawabda Mupariwa, Friday Kasteni. Manager: Goolam Rajah. Coach: Mickey Arthur. Physio: John Gloster.