A campaign that promised so much but produced so little

The Asia Cup began with Sri Lanka in cruise control, sweeping aside all three opponents in the group stage and sending Afghanistan packing. At that point, it looked as though the ghosts of middle-order jitters and spin struggles had been exorcised. Yet when the business end arrived, those very demons resurfaced, and with them went Sri Lanka’s hopes, knocked out with a game to spare.

- REX CLEMENTINE IN DUBAI

The campaign all but flatlined after a limp defeat to Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. The only lifeline was a mathematical miracle: Bangladesh beating India and Pakistan and Sri Lanka themselves thrashing India on net run rate. That was as likely as the dollar crashing to 200 rupees by year’s end.