LAHORE: The Asian Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the schedule of the Men’s ODI Asia Cup 2023.
The 50-over format tournament will be held from 30 August to 17 September with Event Host Pakistan staging four matches and Sri Lanka holding nine matches.
Four venues will be used for the 13-match competition. In Pakistan, Multan will host the tournament opener between Pakistan and Nepal on 30 August before the action shifts to Lahore for the remaining three matches. Sri Lanka will use Kandy for the three first round matches and Colombo for the five Super-4 stage fixtures and the 17 September final.
Sri Lanka will open their campaign against Bangladesh in Kandy on 31 August, while India’s first match in the tournament will be against Pakistan in Kandy on 2 September. If both Pakistan and India progress to the Super-4 stage, they will meet again in Colombo on 10 September.
After hosting the tournament opener in Multan, the remaining three matches in Pakistan will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. On 3 September, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will go head to head, before Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka on 5 September. If all goes according to the pre-event seeding, then Pakistan will take on Bangladesh in both sides’ first Super-4 match on 6 September.
Pakistan and India are seeded as A1 and A2, respectively with Nepal as the third side in Group A, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are seeded as B1 and B2 in Group B, respectively with Afghanistan as the third side. If Nepal and Afghanistan progress to the Super-4 stage from their respective groups, they will take the seeding of the sides that have dropped out in the first round.
Mr Jay Shah, President of the Asian Cricket Council: “We are thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Men’s ODI Asia Cup 2023, a celebration of cricketing excellence that unites the nations of Asia in the spirit of competition and camaraderie. As President of the Asian Cricket Council, I extend my warmest regards and heartfelt wishes to all participating teams.
“The Asia Cup holds a special place in the hearts of cricket enthusiasts across the continent. It goes beyond being just a tournament; it symbolises the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions and shared passion for the game that binds our diverse nations together. This prestigious event not only showcases the cricketing prowess of the players but also fosters a sense of unity and brotherhood among Asian countries,” he added.
