5 young players to watch out for in Asia Cup 2023

Any cricket team needs to have a balance between youngsters and experienced ones. While the experienced ones can guide others with their input, nothing can match the sheer passion of a young cricketer to succeed without thinking much about the results. More often than not, the youngsters go on to become the experienced players themselves who guide the future youngsters.   

It is a continuous cycle. The more youngsters you nurture, the better will be your future. Asia Cup 2023 has 6 participants – India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal. There are a lot of young players in each of these teams. Likewise, there are many experienced campaigners as well. Here are the top 5 young players to watch out for in the Asia Cup 2023.  

5. Tilak Varma  

Tilak Varma (Source: Twitter)

Young and explosive, Tilak Varma came to the scene in the Indian Premier League 2022. For his franchise Mumbai Indians, Varma had a very good debut. The good performances continued in 2023 as well, which bagged him an India debut in T20Is. The 20-year-old had a great debut series against West Indies. The Southpaw has been fast-tracked to the Indian team and is given his maiden call-up in ODIs. It is to be seen if Varma can get a game to play.  

4. Shoriful Islam  

Shoriful Islam (Source: Twitter)

Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam is one of the most exciting players to watch out for. The 22-year-old has had a very good career in ODIs for Bangladesh till now and looks to get better. In 18 matches till now in his career, Islam has claimed 27 wickets at a bowling average of 26.37, at an economy of 5.58 and bowling strike rate of 28.37. Islam can be handy with the new ball and can be effective as a wicket-taking option.   

3. Matheesha Pathirana

Matheesha Pathirana (Source: Twitter)

Sri Lanka's Matheesha Pathirana is one of the rising stars in cricket. In the 2022 IPL, Pathirana made his debut for Chennai Super Kings. People related the bowling action of the quick bowler to that of Lasith Malinga. In the IPL 2023, Pathirana shined as a death bowler. For Sri Lanka, the 20-year-old has not played many games. In 5 ODI matches, Pathirana has 8 wickets at a bowling average of 24.12, a bowling strike rate of 24.38, at an economy of 5.94.  

2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz  

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Source: Twitter)

Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz has had a great career till now, especially in ODIs. The wicketkeeper batter has been one of the best batters in Afghanistan in recent times. The 21-year-old has played 24 matches and scored 953 runs at a batting average of 41.43, at a batting strike rate of 85.43, including 2 fifty and 5 hundred. The conversion rate of Gurbaz has been amazing. Recently, the opener scored a fantastic 151 against Pakistan.    

1. Naseem Shah  

Naseem Shah (Source: Twitter)

Pace sensation Naseem Shah has been one of the best ODI bowlers since 2022. The youngster has been highly impressive in his short ODI career till now. Shah has played 11 ODIs for Pakistan till now and claimed 26 wickets, at a bowling average of 16.15, a bowling strike rate of 21.23, at an economy of 4.57, including two 5-wicket hauls. Naseem can be effective both as a run container and a wicket-taker, which makes him a deadly bowler.