Cricket's minor nations get a rare chance to shine on the big stage when the Asian Games Twenty20 competition opens tomorrow in the absence of powerhouses India and Pakistan.
Defending champions Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the only two Test nations playing in the 10-country men's tournament that follows the women's event at the Yeonhui cricket field in Incheon.
India, who also snubbed the inaugural competition four years ago, again chose to stay away due to their cricket's board reluctance to be part of multi-discipline Games.
Pakistan are fielding only their women's team, which won the gold in Guangzhou in 2010, as the men prepare for the series against Australia starting in the United Arab Emirates next month.
Bangladesh, who won the men's competition four years ago to give the nation their first ever Asian Games gold medal, are at full-strength except for skipper Mushfiqur Rahim who has taken time off to get married.
The Tigers welcomed back star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who served out a disciplinary ban, and seamer Rubel Hossain. They replaced Sohag Gazi and Al-Amin Hossain, who were reported for suspect bowling actions recently.
Sri Lanka are led by Lahiru Thirimanne, who was part of the national squad that won the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh in April.
But is the sports minnows and their unbridled enthusiasm that promises to light up a tournament that the Korean organisers wanted scratched before the Asian Cricket Council stepped in.
