The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on June 15 (Thursday) announced the venue, schedule and format for the 2023 Asia Cup. The governing body confirmed that the competition will be staged as per the 'hybrid model'. As a result, Pakistan will host four matches of the tournament while the remaining nine matches will be played in Sri Lanka. The 2023 Asia Cup will begin on August 31 while the final of the tournament has been scheduled for September 17.
As per the format, the six teams will be divided into two groups with each group having three teams each. The top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then cross swords in the title clash.
A total of 13 matches will be played in the tournament. The 2023 Asia Cup will be played in a 50-over format and will serve as a preparation ground for the ODI World Cup which is scheduled to take place later in the year.
The last edition of the Asia Cup was played in T20 format in 2022. Under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the final and lifted the prestigious continental trophy.
Six teams - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal - will participate in the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup.
"I am elated that our hybrid version for the ACC Asia Cup 2023 has been accepted. This means the PCB will remain as the event host and stage matches in Pakistan with Sri Lanka as the neutral venue, which was required due to the Indian cricket team’s inability to travel to Pakistan," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi said in a statement.
“Our passionate fans would have loved to see the India cricket team in action in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, but we understand the BCCI’s position. Like the PCB, the BCCI also requires government approval and clearance before crossing borders," he added.
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