It would be safe to say that there were no major surprises in the eighth edition of the Asia Cup. The Sri Lankans maintained their excellent record at home, Bangladesh suffered comprehensive losses against the other three Test-playing countries, and India choked when it mattered the most.

Ganguly's side has three weeks in which to return to the basics and mend faults, especially those of the 'mental' variety, before it takes on Pakistan and Australia in a triangular tournament in Holland in the fourth week of August. Thereafter, the Indians play non-stop until December. If the selectors believe in the proverb 'Prevention is better than cure', they might well crack the whip on a couple of players for the Holland tournament. While it certainly won't be fair to chop heads on the basis of one poor series, the selectors would do well to root out traces of complacency, if any. Ajit Agarkar, who is currently representing Middlesex in the English County championship, will fancy his chances of being part of the squad for the Holland series.

If the Indians were disappointed at the end of the tournament, their traditional rivals were livid. Pakistan's latest coach Bob Woolmer attacked the 'bonus-point' rule that according to him had denied his side a place in the final. He would have been better off attacking his Board for accepting the playing conditions and rules / regulations in the first place, when they were sent to them (and the other participating Boards) for approval, well before the tournament got underway! Pakistan's victory over India in the Super Fours was an outstanding achievement, but the players were still guilty of allowing India to escape from jail. Their lacklustre display against Sri Lanka also went against them.

Woolmer enjoys an enviable record as coach, but the country whose side he is coaching presently doesn't exactly have an enviable reputation as far as giving 'time' to a coach is concerned. However, if he keeps his job till the 2007 World Cup, which is what his contract states, it is more than likely that the Pakistani side will go from strength to strength. Talent has never been an issue with Pakistan, what they have needed is direction, and Woolmer has it in him to provide the requisite guidance and direction. On a lighter note, it could be said that Mohammed Sami's wayward 17-ball over against Bangladesh has ensured that Woolmer also knows whom to start with, in terms of giving 'direction'!

The 'language barrier' between the coach and players will sort itself out with the passage of time. Indeed, 'time' and 'stability' are critical, almost unknown terms in the vocabulary of Pakistani cricket. Pakistan's cricket establishment needs to familiarize itself with these words and their respective meanings.

An elementary rule of cricket is that the team that bats, bowls and fields better than its opponents, will stand the better chance of winning. Marvan Atapattu's side did exactly that. They were clearly the better side in the preliminary round game against India, although the margin of victory was only 12. Their demolition of Pakistan in the Super Fours and massacre of India in the final proved that they are among the most dangerous teams in the world, particularly when they are underestimated. Their bowlers were nagging, and their fielders outstanding. India would not have endeared itself to Graeme Smith and his South African team on the eve of their Test and one-day series against the Asia Cup champions. The Proteas will be up against a hungry side, whose strike bowler Muralitharan will be looking to take a substantial lead in his wicket-battle with Shane Warne, and premier batsman Jayasuriya will aim at extending his golden run. Pollock, Ntini and co, beware!
 

The win against Sri Lanka in the Super Fours notwithstanding, India's oft-repeated assertion of being the 'second-best' side in the world has taken a major beating with three defeats out of four games against top teams. The manner in which they folded up in the final, chasing a none-too formidable target, was inexcusable. Their batsmen, christened the 'heavyweights' after their performances in the recent past, took things too literally and batted as if they had tied 'heavy weights' to their bat and feet. On a wicket where the ball was not coming on to the bat, the stroke-makers looked completely clueless. True, everybody has bad days in the office, but nine bad days out of twelve (finals) is too much.

Will India break the jinx? We will know very soon.

The End