According to an announcement made by the Asian Cricket Council on Thursday, the Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 17. The tournament will showcase the cricketing talents of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, as they compete in a series of 13 One Day International (ODI) matches.
In a noteworthy development, the ACC confirmed that the tournament will adopt a hybrid model, with four matches being hosted by Pakistan and the remaining nine matches taking place in Sri Lanka.
Previously, there were doubts regarding Pakistan’s ability to host any matches, but the introduction of this new model ensures that they will have the opportunity to host Asia Cup games after a gap of 15 years.
The upcoming 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will be organized into two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. The Asian Cricket Council has confirmed that only four matches will be hosted in Pakistan, while nine games will take place in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile the match between India and Pakistan will be played in Sri Lanka, date still to be announced.
A noteworthy aspect of the tournament’s planning was the prolonged disagreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the choice of venue. The BCCI had expressed its reluctance to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which led the ACC to actively seek a solution.
While Pakistan initially resisted moving the entire tournament away from their country, they eventually proposed a hybrid model that includes hosting some matches in Pakistan and others in Sri Lanka. This compromise allowed for a resolution to the venue dispute and ensured the inclusion of both nations in the tournament.
The prolonged discussions surrounding the Asia Cup had a significant impact on the scheduling of the upcoming ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in India later this year. However, with the Asia Cup’s schedule and venues now finalized, it is anticipated that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will soon announce the schedule for the ODI World Cup as well.
The resolution of the Asia Cup logjam has paved the way for further planning and coordination, allowing cricket fans to look forward to both prestigious tournaments taking place as scheduled.
