The first round of the 2023 Asia Cup will start on August 31 with matches being held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the championship match taking place on September 17.
The 16th Asia Cup has been scheduled, with Sri Lanka hosting the remaining games while four matches will be played in Pakistan. Beginning on August 31 and lasting until September 17, the competition will take place.
The tournament, which consists of 13 ODI matches, will feature participation from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal.
This year’s competition will consist of two groups of three teams each, with the top two moving on to the Super Four stage.
The Super Four final is then played on September 17 between the top two teams.
A group consisting of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan is one, while another includes India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
After defeating UAE in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup final in Kathmandu earlier in the year, Nepal had earned a spot in the main tournament.
The current champions are Sri Lanka, who defeated Pakistan in the championship match last year in the United Arab Emirates.
The Asia Cup schedule’s approval also confirms Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup in India in October-November. On October 15, the traditional rivals are anticipated to square off at the biggest cricket stadium in the world in Ahmedabad.
The schedule for the ODI World Cup in India will be released soon, now that the dates and locations for the Asia Cup have been revealed.
It is believed that after visiting Karachi to meet with PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and ICC CEO Geoff Allardice last month, it was decided that Pakistan would not set any requirements for playing in the World Cup, provided four Asia Cup matches were held in the nation since they hold the hosting rights.
Playing a tournament without Pakistan would have meant that the broadcasters would only give ACC half the money committed for the tournament because there would be two guaranteed India-Pakistan games and possibly a chance for a third if the two teams make it to the final.
“I am overjoyed that our hybrid submission for the ACC Asia Cup 2023 has been approved. As a result, the PCB will continue to host the event and hold the matches in Pakistan at a neutral site in Sri Lanka, which was necessary because the Indian cricket team was unable to travel to Pakistan, according to PCB President Najam Sethi.
“We understand the BCCI’s stance, but our ardent fans would have loved to see the India cricket team play in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years. Before crossing international borders, the BCCI, like the PCB, needs permission from the government and clearance.”
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