Asia Cup team of the tournament: Hasaranga shines and 'King' Kohli is back

Paul Radley picks his best XI after Sri Lanka clinched the title by beating Pakistan in the final

1. Mohammed Rizwan (Pakistan) His go-slow in the final might have cost his side, but he was a pillar of reliability until then, and the tournament’s leading run-scorer. AFP

2. Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) Scored slightly less runs than his opening partner, Pathum Nissanka, but at a faster rate. Together they infused their side with belief. Chris Whiteoak / The National

3. Virat Kohli (India) Hit the lone century of the competition, and only Rizwan managed more runs overall. The King is back. AFP

4. Suryakumar Yadav (India) Gave the start of the tournament its most thrilling sight, when he laced 68 not out in 23 balls against Hong Kong. Chris Whiteoak / The National

5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka) Proving that “Rajapaksa” is not always a dirty word. He played the seminal innings of the final, with his counter-punching 71 not out. AP

6. Mohammed Nawaz (Pakistan) Played almost the perfect match in Pakistan’s win over India, with a fine spell with the ball, a crucial cameo with the bat, and three brilliant catches. AP

7. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) The player of the tournament applied the coup de grace in the final, with three wickets in an over to start the party. AFP

8. Shadab Khan (Pakistan) Apologised to fans for his two dropped catches in the final, but few had done more than him to ensure Pakistan reached that point. AP

9. Haris Rauf (Pakistan) The tournament was denied one stellar headline act with Shaheen Afridi’s absence, but the sight of a rampaging Rauf and Naseem Shah made up for it. AFP

10. Mujeeb ur Rahman (Afghanistan) The most miserly bowler out of anyone who sent down any significant number of overs in the tournament, with an economy rate of 5.5. AFP

11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India) The leading wicket-taker in the competition, which he signed off with his remarkable five for four against Afghanistan. AFP

Sri Lanka left no-one in any doubt as to who was the team of the tournament as they stunned Pakistan to win the Asia Cup final at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday night.

A side that had been derided by a Bangladesh team official as having no world-class bowlers proved they are secretly pretty handy indeed as they bowled Pakistan out.

A club team in Sri Lanka known as Nondescripts CC have produced some of the country’s greatest cricketers down the years.

That would works as a fitting description for the current national team, as they are light on the household names of the past.

Celebrity status was no match for endeavour and team spirit, though, as the Sri Lankans clinched the title in front of a thrilled crowd at Sports City.

The fact they shared the burden around in winning the title is reflected in the fact that they do not, in fact, have the largest quota of players in our Select XI for the competition.

Pakistan, who illuminated the tournament brilliantly until they crumbled in the last 30 overs of it, provide four players.

There are as many Indians – three – as Sri Lankans, while Mujeeb ur Rahman is the lone Afghan.