New Delhi, July 19th: The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023 is set to kick off on August 30 with Pakistan taking on Nepal in Multan, as announced by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President & BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. The tournament, played in a 50-over format, will witness a fierce battle between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
The six-nation tournament will be hosted jointly by Pakistan and Sri Lanka under a hybrid model. It will serve as a crucial preparation for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal ahead of the Men’s ODI World Cup scheduled in India from October 5 to November 19. A total of 13 ODI matches will be contested during the Asia Cup 2023.
Group A comprises India, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Four stage, leading to a thrilling final showdown on September 17 in Colombo.
Defending champions Sri Lanka won the last edition of the Asia Cup, held in the 20-over format in the UAE. However, India claimed victory in the 50-over format during the previous Asia Cup in the UAE in 2018.
The full schedule for the Asia Cup 2023 is as follows:
Group Stage
- August 30: Pakistan vs. Nepal – Multan
- August 31: Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka – Kandy
- September 2: Pakistan vs. India – Kandy
- September 3: Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan – Lahore
- September 4: India vs. Nepal – Kandy
- September 5: Afghanistan vs. Sri Lanka – Lahore
Super Fours
- September 6: A1 vs. B2 – Lahore
- September 9: B1 vs. B2 – Colombo
- September 10: A1 vs. A2 – Colombo
- September 12: A2 vs. B1 – Colombo
- September 14: A1 vs. B1 – Colombo
- September 15: A2 vs. B2 – Colombo
Final
- September 17 – Colombo
Jay Shah took to Twitter to express his excitement, calling the Asia Cup a symbol of unity and togetherness, binding diverse nations through cricketing excellence. As cricket fans eagerly await this prestigious tournament, all eyes will be on the fierce India-Pakistan rivalry that is sure to captivate cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
