The long-awaited Asia Cup 2023 has finally received the green light. After months of uncertainty and deliberation, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced that the tournament will proceed as planned. Taking into account the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) reservations about traveling to Pakistan, the ACC has accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) hybrid model. Pakistan will host four matches, while the remaining nine will be held in Sri Lanka, including the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan.
Here’s what we know about the Asia Cup 2023 so far: The tournament will commence on August 31 and conclude with the final on September 17. Participating teams include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Pakistan will host four matches against Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka will host the remaining nine, including the India versus Pakistan encounter.
The teams have been divided into two groups: Group A consists of India, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Notably, India and Pakistan find themselves in the same group, potentially setting the stage for three exciting encounters between the arch-rivals in the span of two weeks.
In a statement, the ACC expressed their delight, saying, “We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will see the elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal compete in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches. The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka.”
Earlier reports had indicated that the ACC had approved the PCB’s hybrid model for the Asia Cup. According to these reports, Pakistan is scheduled to play matches against Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.
Following the format of the previous edition, the Asia Cup 2023 will feature two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. The ultimate face-off will take place between the top two teams from the Super Four stage in the much-anticipated final showdown. Cricket fans across the region can now eagerly look forward to this exciting tournament that will showcase the talent and competitive spirit of Asia’s cricketing powerhouses.
