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With our brand-new podcast, The Cricket Pod, we at The National seek to shine a spotlight on the "gentleman’s game" every week, bringing to you the latest news, views, reviews and interviews from our studios in Abu Dhabi. And there would be no better way to start this new venture than by previewing a huge tournament right in the UAE's backyard: The Asia Cup. Hosts Chitrabhanu Kadalayil and Paul Radley were joined in-studio by UAE bowler Ahmed Raza, who also helped us interview Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath about how his team might fare against heavyweights India and Pakistan. Raza, named Player of the Tournament at the Asia Cup Qualifier in Malaysia even as the national side narrowly missed out on qualification, also talks about his experience of playing in the continent's flagship tournament – when the UAE featured in the last edition in Bangladesh two years ago. The left-arm spinner compares the strengths and weaknesses of the two favourites, India and Pakistan, and names the players he thinks we need to watch out for. We also preview Group B's Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with staff writer Amith Passela. Which side do we think are favourites to make the final?