The much delayed schedule announcement for the 2023 Asia Cup 50-over tournament finally happened on Wednesday evening with the highly anticipated India v Pakistan clash set to take place in Kandy on September 2.
A hybrid model has been announced for the tournament, with matches split between co-hosts Pakistan and Sri Lanka following India's refusal to travel to Pakistan over security concerns.
That decision had threatened to derail not just the Asia Cup but the subsequent ODI World Cup in India, with Pakistan warning that they too could refuse to travel to India.
However, a compromise was reached with Pakistan getting to host matches, including the opening game in Multan on August 30.
The tournament concludes on September 17.
Pakistan will travel to Sri Lanka where they will face rivals India in Kandy. If both countries qualify for the Super 4 stage, they will play in Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
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India's Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 82 to secure victory against Pakistan in their T20 World Cup match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, October 23, 2022. AP -
India captain Rohit Sharma lifts Virat Kohli as they celebrate their win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in Melbourne. AFP -
Virat Kohli guided India to victory over Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday. AP -
Virat Kohli secured a famous win for India against Pakistan. Getty -
India's Virat Kohli, left, and Hardik Pandya starred in a century stand to clinch victory against Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday. AP -
India's Hardik Pandya scored a quick 40 and took three wickets in Melbourne on Sunday. AP -
India's Virat Kohli scored one of the finest T20 innings in a chase against Pakistan in Melbourne. AFP -
Fan attendance is shown on a giant at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AP -
Virat Kohli hit successive sixes in the penultimate over to set up victory. AP -
Pakistan's Haris Rauf took the wicket of India captain Rohit Sharma in Melbourne on Sunday. AFP -
Haris Rauf rocked India's top order with extreme pace. Getty -
India opener KL Rahul is bowled by Pakistan quick Naseem Shah. AFP -
Naseem Shah of Pakistan is congratulated by teammates after getting the wicket of KL Rahul at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Getty -
Pakistan's Shan Masood held the innings together with a fine fifty. AFP -
Pakistan's Shan Masood scored an unbeaten fifty against India in Melbourne. AFP -
India's Hardik Pandya, right, reacts after dismissing Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz. AP -
Hardik Pandya took three wickets for India. AFP -
A pitch invader runs onto the field at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Getty -
Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed celebrates reaching his fifty in Melbourne. AFP -
Iftikhar Ahmed gave Pakistan's innings the impetus. Getty -
India and Pakistan fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Getty -
India's Arshdeep Singh, left, reacts after dismissing Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan. AP
The schedule of the tournament went through several changes and in the original draft Pakistan were scheduled to host four games in Lahore.
Pakistan are with India and Nepal in Group A while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in Group B.
The Asia Cup will be played to 50-overs to allow five of the six teams – excluding Nepal – to tune up for the ODI World Cup, which takes place from October 5 to November 19.
Asia Cup 2023 schedule
August 30: Pakistan v Nepal, Multan
August 31: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Kandy
September 2: Pakistan v India, Kandy
September 3: Bangladesh v Afghanistan, Lahore
September 4: India v Nepal, Kandy
September 5: Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore
September 6: Super 4 - A1 v B2, Lahore
September 9: B1 v B2, Colombo
September 10: A1 v A2, Colombo
September 12: A2 v B1, Colombo
September 14: A1 v B1, Colombo
September 15: A2 v B2 Colombo
September 17: Final, Colombo (September 18 reserve day)
