Provided Nepal don’t cause a seismic upset in the group stages, India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet twice in Kandy, eight days apart, before a potential meeting in the final of the Asia Cup 2023. Pakistan will open the tournament against Nepal in Multan on August 30, while the first big-ticket clash between India and Pakistan will take place on September 2. As RevSportz had reported on June 7, the schedule confirms that the continental competition will be hosted by two nations – Pakistan and Sri Lanka – as agreed upon in the ‘hybrid model’, proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and okayed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
The schedule, seen by RevSportz, is all set to be announced by Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chief, at 7:45 PM IST on Wednesday, July 19.
Bangladesh will play the second match of the tournament against Sri Lanka in Kandy on August 31, followed by the Pakistan-India clash on September 2. Bangladesh will then take on Afghanistan in Lahore on September 3, followed by the India-Nepal encounter in Kandy on September 4.
Sri Lanka will then play Afghanistan on September 5 in Lahore followed by the Super Fours matches, which start from September 5. Pakistan have been designated as A1 for those matches, with India as A2. Sri Lanka will be B1 and Bangladesh B2. Should either Nepal or Afganistan make the Super Fours, they will take the designation of the team they knock out.
The Final will be played on September 17 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Asia Cup Full Schedule:
August 30 – Pakistan vs Nepal – Multan
August 31 – Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka – Kandy
September 1 – Break Day
September 2 – Pakistan vs India – Kandy
September 3 – Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – Lahore
September 4 – India vs Nepal – Kandy
September 5 – Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – Lahore
September 6 – Super 4s – A1 vs B2 – Lahore
September 7 – Travel Day
September 8 -Break Day
September 9 – B1 vs B2 – Kandy
September 10 – A1 vs A2 – Kandy
September 11 – Break Day
September 12 – A2 vs B1 – Colombo
September 13 – Break Day
September 14 – A1 vs B2 – Colombo
September 15 – A2 vs B2 – Colombo
September 16 – Break Day
September 17 – Final – Colombo