Asia Cup 2023 Schedule: PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf announced the schedule for the continental tournament on July 19 (Wednesday) with the India-Pakistan fixture confirmed for September 2.
Asia Cup 2023 Schedule: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has announced the long-awaited schedule for Asia Cup 2023. While the tournament will commence on August 30 with hosts Pakistan set to take on Nepal, the summit clash is scheduled to be played on September 17 with Colombo shortlisted as the venue for the fixture. Meanwhile, IND vs PAK (India vs Pakistan) clash will happen on September 2 in Kandy. In case, both the teams qualify for the Super Four stage, they will meet once again in Colombo on September 10.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah who also happens to be the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) took to Twitter to share an image of the complete schedule of the tournament. His post confirms that a total of 13 matches will be played in this competition. The tournament will be played across four venues- Multan, Lahore, Kandy and Colombo. Six matches will be played in the Group stage, Six in the super four with the final scheduled in Colombo.
It is pertinent to note that the Asia Cup is being played in the hybrid model with matches being played across two countries due to BCCI’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan owing to the tensed political relationship between the two countries. PCB, despite being a host country, has ultimately agreed to host India matches at a neutral venue for which Sri Lanka has got the nod ahead of UAE.
This is because ACC member nations including were not in favour of the matches in UAE due to the weather conditions in the middle east in September. Pakistan and India had met twice even in last year’s Asia Cup with India winning on one occasion and Pakistan clinching the second game.
