Asia Cup 2023 schedule has been finalised, India vs Pakistan match to be held in Srilanka: With the BCCI stating that the Asia Cup 2023 will be contested under the hybrid concept, the way is clear for the continental event to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
According to the model, four matches would be staged in Pakistan, while the remaining nine will be played in Sri Lanka, with the tournament calendar being established during a meeting between BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf.
According to reports, Pakistan will play one home game against Nepal, with the other three matches taking place in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
All of India’s matches, including those against Pakistan, will be played in Sri Lanka.
“Our secretary met with PCB head Zaka Ashraf, and the Asia Cup schedule was finalised and is on track as previously discussed.”
“There will be four league games in Pakistan, followed by nine games in Sri Lanka, including both India versus Pakistan games and, if both teams play the final, a third game,” IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told news agency PTI.
According to the report, India may face Pakistan in Dambulla.
Meanwhile, Shah has denied suggestions that he will fly to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
“I have made no commitments.” This is simply a case of miscommunication. Probably done on purpose or with malice. “I’m not going,” Jay Shah told News18 CricketNext on Wednesday morning.
Following India’s unwillingness to travel over the border for the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s sports minister recently stated that their men’s team ODI World Cup matches would be contested at a neutral venue.
The World Cup will be held in India beginning on October 5, with defending champions England playing on New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
“If India does not want to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, I want our World Cup matches to be played at neutral venues. If they have security problems in Pakistan, according to the Indian board, then we can question the security situation in India,” Pakistan’s Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Minister Ahsan Mazari had stated.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India declined to dispatch their team across the border, while the Gulf region was eliminated as a potential venue due to the excessive heat anticipated in September.
Asia Cup 2023: The Asia Cup is anticipated to be held in Sri Lanka as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) intends to relocate the competition from Pakistan. The potential relocation of the event from its initial host country was a likely consideration following the statement made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, indicating that the Indian team would not embark on a journey across the border.
The tournament’s venue decision is anticipated to be made by the conclusion of this month. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are in favor of holding the event in the island nation. The current status of Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament remains uncertain, as there are indications that they may choose to abstain from participating.
The PCB is expressing interest in hosting the tournament domestically, but the BCCI is receiving backing from other ACC members, making the decision appear inevitable. The PCB suggested a hybrid model for hosting the Asia Cup after the BCCI declined to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, citing insufficient clearance from the government. As per the proposal, only India’s matches would be held in Dubai.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh boards have backed the BCCI and supported the decision of moving the 2023 Asia Cup out of Pakistan. (Reported by Geo News).
The proposal in question has failed to garner any interest, and the tournament broadcaster has also voiced apprehensions regarding it. Additionally, due to September being the height of summer in the United Arab Emirates, the other boards expressed concerns regarding participating in the Gulf region merely a month before the 50-over World Cup. At a recent informal gathering of the ACC members, it has been reported that Oman expressed interest in hosting the tournament. However, after careful consideration of the prevailing circumstances, Sri Lanka has been deemed a suitable location.
During the September of 2018, Dubai was the host of the Asia Cup, where the players faced highly demanding conditions. During the tournament, Hardik Pandya suffered a back injury. With the World Cup scheduled to commence in the first week of October and teams eager to utilize the Asia Cup as a form of preparation, the UAE has been completely eliminated as an option.
The main concern regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup in 2023:
Historically, the IPL has been organized by the BCCI in September (2020). However, even matches that were held during the latter part of the summer season posed challenges for players.The participation of Pakistan is uncertain.
The ACC is currently considering the final decision regarding the tournament, as teams are cautious about risking players in extreme heat. Additionally, Sri Lanka Cricket has expressed interest in hosting the tournament. If the event were to take place in Sri Lanka, Dambulla and Pallekele could serve as potential venues due to the monsoon season typically occurring in Colombo during September.
The impact of this event on the forthcoming World Cup is yet to be determined. Intelligence suggests that if the Asia Cup is relocated from Pakistan, the PCB may opt out of the tournament, according to reports. The potential decision to skip the aforementioned tournament may raise doubts regarding their involvement in the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to take place in India during October and November.
The Asia Cup of 2022 was won by Sri Lanka, which was played in the T20 format as it preceded the T20 World Cup in Australia. The tournament alternates between 20 and 50-over formats based on the upcoming ICC event. The upcoming game will be conducted in a 50-over structure. In the previous instance of the tournament held in the 50-over format, India emerged victorious by defeating Bangladesh in the final match held in Dubai.
In the event of Pakistan’s confirmation, the Asia Cup would comprise six teams. Nepal has secured a spot in the tournament by emerging victorious in the ACC’s Premier Cup, alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
The proposed schedule for the tournament is from September 2 to 17.
Teams are qualified for Asia Cup:
India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan(unclear)
