By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host the opening match of the 2023 Asia Cup cricket tournament against Nepal in Multan on August 30, a day earlier than originally planned, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday.
The six-nation 50-over event, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will mark the return of the Asia Cup to Pakistan after 15 years as it prepares to stage the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
The ACC approved a hybrid model for the tournament last month after India refused to send its team to Pakistan for security reasons. India will play its group matches and a possible Super-4 clash with Pakistan in Sri Lanka.
The tournament will feature four venues, with Lahore hosting three matches and Multan one in Pakistan, while Kandy and Colombo will host nine matches in Sri Lanka, including the final on Sept. 17.
Pakistan and India are seeded as A1 and A2 in Group A, with Nepal as the third team, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are seeded as B1 and B2 in Group B, with Afghanistan as the third team.
The first-round matches will be played from August 30 to September 4, followed by the Super-4 stage from September 7 to September 13.
The first Pakistan-India clash is scheduled for September 2 in Kandy and if both teams advance to the Super-4 stage, their second face-off will take place in Colombo on September 10.
Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the PCB’s interim management committee, said he was delighted to host the Asia Cup after a long gap and hoped to provide a memorable experience for the participants and fans.
“Our arrangements and hospitality are second to none and this will be a great opportunity to once again showcase this at an international level,” he said in a statement.
He also congratulated Nepal on qualifying for the Asia Cup and said he looked forward to welcoming them along with Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
“For Pakistan, it will be an excellent opportunity for them to play in high-profile pressure matches and also aim to reclaim the title they last won in 2012,” he added.
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