The 14th edition of the Asia Cup has thrown quite a few surprises at us. We&#8217;ve witnessed some breath-taking action and a few intense and thrilling games. All the six teams that took part in the tournament showed some great competitive spirit which was great to watch.

In the end, it was India who emerged as the champions for the seventh time. Like in every other tournament, the teams would be seeking the positives out of this Asia Cup and would be eager to improve on their weaknesses. On that note, let us analyse the biggest positives for each of the six teams from this tournament.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-278853" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Hong-Kong.jpg" alt="Hong Kong" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-278853" class="wp-caption-text">Hong Kong team. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

There weren&#8217;t many expectations on Hong Kong as they entered into this tournament. They disappointed one and all in the opening game against Pakistan. However, they bounced back brilliantly in the next encounter against India by putting up a stunning performance.

The team was on the course of upsetting the tournament favourites at one point in time. But the lack of experience of playing at such a stage got the better of them. Their openers Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan are the biggest positives for the team along with the off-spinner Ehsan Khan who kissed the pitch after taking MS Dhoni&#8217;s wicket for a duck.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-280584" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sri-Lanka-team.jpg" alt="Sri Lanka team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-280584" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lanka team. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sri-lanka-re-appoint-dinesh-chandimal-odi-skipper-england-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sri Lanka</strong></a> has had a dismal Asia Cup and they would like to forget things and move on from here quickly. They lost both the games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in quite an embarrassing manner. As a result, they were knocked out right in the first stage of the Asian battle.

Since their performance was so pathetic, there aren&#8217;t many positives that they would take from the tournament which lasted only three days for them. But Lasith Malinga making a comeback after a year and doing so well would be a sigh of relief for the management. He picked 4 wickets in the first game and followed it up with one more in the next. Malinga is possibly the biggest and only positive for the team. Thisara Perera fared well alongside him with the ball.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282893" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Afghanistan-team-4.jpg" alt="Afghanistan team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282893" class="wp-caption-text">Afghanistan team celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Afghanistan&#8217;s growth in the international arena has stunned many people. They are no more an opposition that can be neglected and will give any team a run for their money on any given day. Although they couldn&#8217;t go the distance in the tournament, they won everyone&#8217;s hearts with their spirit and fight.

This obviously should be the biggest plus for the team. They gelled really well as a team and was never a one-man show entirely. While one might argue that their bowling has been the biggest positive, they have always had great success in this department. More than anything else, it is their batting which was great and the batsmen have consistently put scores around 250 on the board throughout the Asia Cup.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282109" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pakistan-players.jpg" alt="Pakistan players" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282109" class="wp-caption-text">Pakistan players. (Photo Source: Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Pakistan went into the tournament as one of the favourites. However, the team failed to live up to the expectations in the tournament. After defeating Hong Kong in the first game, the Men in Green didn&#8217;t really find their feet. They lost both the games against India and had a close shave against Afghanistan.

By losing against Bangladesh, they were knocked out of the Asia Cup. For them, their biggest positives in the tournament were Imam ul Haq (225 runs in 5 innings) and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sania-mirzas-reply-forces-pak-journo-who-mocked-shoaib-malik-to-delete-his-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shoaib Malik</strong></a> (211 runs in 5 innings). Touted to be the best bowling line-up in the tournament, their bowlers failed terribly and Pakistan have got a lot of issues to address.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282442" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bangladesh-team-1.jpg" alt="Bangladesh team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282442" class="wp-caption-text">Bangladesh team. (Photo Source: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

For the third time in four editions, Bangladesh entered the final of the Asia Cup. The team stayed positive throughout the tournament and defeated all the odds to get through to the last game. There are quite a few positives that Bangladesh can take from here.

Firstly, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mushfiqur-rahims-timely-celebrations-afghanistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mushfiqur Rahim</strong></a> was mind-boggling and scored 302 runs in five innings at an average of 60. He has carried the burden of the batting lineup almost single-handedly in crucial games. Also, Mustafizur Rahman coming back in form was a great sign for Bangladesh cricket overall. The left-arm pacer picked 10 wickets in five outings and ended as the joint highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282352" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Indian-team-5.jpg" alt="Indian team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282352" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team celebrates a wicket. (Photo by Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>

The tournament favourites, India had a smooth sail in Asia Cup 2018. Under Rohit Sharma, the team performed exceedingly well after the long, gruelling tour to England. The team has got many positives to take away from this tournament.

The openers <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rohit-sharma-shikhar-dhawan-form-destructive-pair-world-feels-sunil-gavaskar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan</strong></a> have had a terrific run and are scoring runs for fun. Also, Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul&#8217;s good form is another positive. The biggest positive though was Ravindra Jadeja&#8217;s successful return to the white-ball cricket. He batted well and was exceptional with the ball and in the field. Further, India has also found a very reliable captain in Rohit who has claimed to take up full-time captaincy whenever needed.

<p>The 14th edition of the Asia Cup has thrown quite a few surprises at us. We’ve witnessed some breath-taking action and a few intense and thrilling games. All the six teams that took part in the tournament showed some great competitive spirit which was great to watch.</p>
<p>In the end, it was India who emerged as the champions for the seventh time. Like in every other tournament, the teams would be seeking the positives out of this Asia Cup and would be eager to improve on their weaknesses. On that note, let us analyse the biggest positives for each of the six teams from this tournament.</p>
<h3>1. Hong Kong</h3>
<figure id="attachment_278853" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-278853" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-278853" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Hong-Kong.jpg" alt="Hong Kong" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-278853" class="wp-caption-text">Hong Kong team. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>There weren’t many expectations on Hong Kong as they entered into this tournament. They disappointed one and all in the opening game against Pakistan. However, they bounced back brilliantly in the next encounter against India by putting up a stunning performance.</p>
<p>The team was on the course of upsetting the tournament favourites at one point in time. But the lack of experience of playing at such a stage got the better of them. Their openers Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan are the biggest positives for the team along with the off-spinner Ehsan Khan who kissed the pitch after taking MS Dhoni’s wicket for a duck.</p>
<h3>2. Sri Lanka</h3>
<figure id="attachment_280584" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-280584" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-280584" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sri-Lanka-team.jpg" alt="Sri Lanka team" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-280584" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lanka team. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sri-lanka-re-appoint-dinesh-chandimal-odi-skipper-england-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sri Lanka</strong></a> has had a dismal Asia Cup and they would like to forget things and move on from here quickly. They lost both the games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in quite an embarrassing manner. As a result, they were knocked out right in the first stage of the Asian battle.</p>
<p>Since their performance was so pathetic, there aren’t many positives that they would take from the tournament which lasted only three days for them. But Lasith Malinga making a comeback after a year and doing so well would be a sigh of relief for the management. He picked 4 wickets in the first game and followed it up with one more in the next. Malinga is possibly the biggest and only positive for the team. Thisara Perera fared well alongside him with the ball.</p>
<h3>3. Afghanistan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282893" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282893" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-282893" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Afghanistan-team-4.jpg" alt="Afghanistan team" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282893" class="wp-caption-text">Afghanistan team celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Afghanistan’s growth in the international arena has stunned many people. They are no more an opposition that can be neglected and will give any team a run for their money on any given day. Although they couldn’t go the distance in the tournament, they won everyone’s hearts with their spirit and fight.</p>
<p>This obviously should be the biggest plus for the team. They gelled really well as a team and was never a one-man show entirely. While one might argue that their bowling has been the biggest positive, they have always had great success in this department. More than anything&nbsp;else, it is their batting which was great and the batsmen have consistently put scores around 250 on the board throughout the Asia Cup.</p>
<h3>4. Pakistan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282109" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282109" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-282109" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pakistan-players.jpg" alt="Pakistan players" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282109" class="wp-caption-text">Pakistan players. (Photo Source: Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Pakistan went into the tournament as one of the favourites. However, the team failed to live up to the expectations in the tournament. After defeating Hong Kong in the first game, the Men in Green didn’t really find their feet. They lost both the games against India and had a close shave against Afghanistan.</p>
<p>By losing against Bangladesh, they were knocked out of the Asia Cup. For them, their biggest positives in the tournament were Imam ul Haq (225 runs in 5 innings) and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sania-mirzas-reply-forces-pak-journo-who-mocked-shoaib-malik-to-delete-his-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shoaib Malik</strong></a> (211 runs in 5 innings). Touted to be the best bowling line-up in the tournament, their bowlers failed terribly and Pakistan have got a lot of issues to address.</p>
<h3>5. Bangladesh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282442" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282442" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-282442" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bangladesh-team-1.jpg" alt="Bangladesh team" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282442" class="wp-caption-text">Bangladesh team. (Photo Source: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>For the third time in four editions, Bangladesh entered the final of the Asia Cup. The team stayed positive throughout the tournament and defeated all the odds to get through to the last game. There are quite a few positives that Bangladesh can take from here.</p>
<p>Firstly, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mushfiqur-rahims-timely-celebrations-afghanistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mushfiqur Rahim</strong></a> was mind-boggling and scored 302 runs in five innings at an average of 60. He has carried the burden of the batting lineup almost single-handedly in crucial games. Also, Mustafizur Rahman coming back in form was a great sign for Bangladesh cricket overall. The left-arm pacer picked 10 wickets in five outings and ended as the joint highest wicket-taker of the tournament.</p>
<h3>6. India</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282352" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282352" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-282352" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Indian-team-5.jpg" alt="Indian team" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282352" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team celebrates a wicket. (Photo by Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The tournament favourites, India had a smooth sail in Asia Cup 2018. Under Rohit Sharma, the team performed exceedingly well after the long, gruelling tour to England. The team has got many positives to take away from this tournament.</p>
<p>The openers <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rohit-sharma-shikhar-dhawan-form-destructive-pair-world-feels-sunil-gavaskar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan</strong></a> have had a terrific run and are scoring runs for fun. Also, Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul’s good form is another positive. The biggest positive though was Ravindra Jadeja’s successful return to the white-ball cricket. He batted well and was exceptional with the ball and in the field. Further, India has also found a very reliable captain in Rohit who has claimed to take up full-time captaincy whenever needed.</p>

<p>The 14th edition of the Asia Cup has thrown quite a few surprises at us. We&#8217;ve witnessed some breath-taking action and a few intense and thrilling games. All the six teams that took part in the tournament showed some great competitive spirit which was great to watch.</p>
<p>In the end, it was India who emerged as the champions for the seventh time. Like in every other tournament, the teams would be seeking the positives out of this Asia Cup and would be eager to improve on their weaknesses. On that note, let us analyse the biggest positives for each of the six teams from this tournament.</p>
<h3>1. Hong Kong</h3>
<figure id="attachment_278853" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-278853" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-278853" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Hong-Kong.jpg" alt="Hong Kong" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-278853" class="wp-caption-text">Hong Kong team. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>There weren&#8217;t many expectations on Hong Kong as they entered into this tournament. They disappointed one and all in the opening game against Pakistan. However, they bounced back brilliantly in the next encounter against India by putting up a stunning performance.</p>
<p>The team was on the course of upsetting the tournament favourites at one point in time. But the lack of experience of playing at such a stage got the better of them. Their openers Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan are the biggest positives for the team along with the off-spinner Ehsan Khan who kissed the pitch after taking MS Dhoni&#8217;s wicket for a duck.</p>
<h3>2. Sri Lanka</h3>
<figure id="attachment_280584" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-280584" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-280584" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sri-Lanka-team.jpg" alt="Sri Lanka team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-280584" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lanka team. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sri-lanka-re-appoint-dinesh-chandimal-odi-skipper-england-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sri Lanka</strong></a> has had a dismal Asia Cup and they would like to forget things and move on from here quickly. They lost both the games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in quite an embarrassing manner. As a result, they were knocked out right in the first stage of the Asian battle.</p>
<p>Since their performance was so pathetic, there aren&#8217;t many positives that they would take from the tournament which lasted only three days for them. But Lasith Malinga making a comeback after a year and doing so well would be a sigh of relief for the management. He picked 4 wickets in the first game and followed it up with one more in the next. Malinga is possibly the biggest and only positive for the team. Thisara Perera fared well alongside him with the ball.</p>
<h3>3. Afghanistan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282893" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282893" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282893" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Afghanistan-team-4.jpg" alt="Afghanistan team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282893" class="wp-caption-text">Afghanistan team celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Afghanistan&#8217;s growth in the international arena has stunned many people. They are no more an opposition that can be neglected and will give any team a run for their money on any given day. Although they couldn&#8217;t go the distance in the tournament, they won everyone&#8217;s hearts with their spirit and fight.</p>
<p>This obviously should be the biggest plus for the team. They gelled really well as a team and was never a one-man show entirely. While one might argue that their bowling has been the biggest positive, they have always had great success in this department. More than anything else, it is their batting which was great and the batsmen have consistently put scores around 250 on the board throughout the Asia Cup.</p>
<h3>4. Pakistan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282109" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282109" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282109" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pakistan-players.jpg" alt="Pakistan players" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282109" class="wp-caption-text">Pakistan players. (Photo Source: Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Pakistan went into the tournament as one of the favourites. However, the team failed to live up to the expectations in the tournament. After defeating Hong Kong in the first game, the Men in Green didn&#8217;t really find their feet. They lost both the games against India and had a close shave against Afghanistan.</p>
<p>By losing against Bangladesh, they were knocked out of the Asia Cup. For them, their biggest positives in the tournament were Imam ul Haq (225 runs in 5 innings) and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sania-mirzas-reply-forces-pak-journo-who-mocked-shoaib-malik-to-delete-his-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shoaib Malik</strong></a> (211 runs in 5 innings). Touted to be the best bowling line-up in the tournament, their bowlers failed terribly and Pakistan have got a lot of issues to address.</p>
<h3>5. Bangladesh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282442" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282442" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282442" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bangladesh-team-1.jpg" alt="Bangladesh team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282442" class="wp-caption-text">Bangladesh team. (Photo Source: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>For the third time in four editions, Bangladesh entered the final of the Asia Cup. The team stayed positive throughout the tournament and defeated all the odds to get through to the last game. There are quite a few positives that Bangladesh can take from here.</p>
<p>Firstly, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mushfiqur-rahims-timely-celebrations-afghanistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mushfiqur Rahim</strong></a> was mind-boggling and scored 302 runs in five innings at an average of 60. He has carried the burden of the batting lineup almost single-handedly in crucial games. Also, Mustafizur Rahman coming back in form was a great sign for Bangladesh cricket overall. The left-arm pacer picked 10 wickets in five outings and ended as the joint highest wicket-taker of the tournament.</p>
<h3>6. India</h3>
<figure id="attachment_282352" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-282352" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-282352" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Indian-team-5.jpg" alt="Indian team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-282352" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team celebrates a wicket. (Photo by Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The tournament favourites, India had a smooth sail in Asia Cup 2018. Under Rohit Sharma, the team performed exceedingly well after the long, gruelling tour to England. The team has got many positives to take away from this tournament.</p>
<p>The openers <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rohit-sharma-shikhar-dhawan-form-destructive-pair-world-feels-sunil-gavaskar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan</strong></a> have had a terrific run and are scoring runs for fun. Also, Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul&#8217;s good form is another positive. The biggest positive though was Ravindra Jadeja&#8217;s successful return to the white-ball cricket. He batted well and was exceptional with the ball and in the field. Further, India has also found a very reliable captain in Rohit who has claimed to take up full-time captaincy whenever needed.</p>

The tournament was crucial for the teams to gauge themselves ahead of the World Cup.

Asia Cup 2018: Positives for each of the six teams

Here are the positives that each of the six teams can take away from the Asia Cup 2018.