IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has confirmed the finalized schedule for the Asia Cup and announced the venue for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match.
Cricket fans have been eagerly awaiting the clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, which is set to take place twice in men’s cricket this year. The teams will first face off in the Asia Cup before renewing their rivalry in the ODI World Cup in October. While the date and venue for their World Cup match are already known, there has been significant speculation surrounding their encounter in the continental tournament.
Putting an end to the rumors and controversies surrounding the Asia Cup schedule, Arun Dhumal, the current chairman of the Indian Premier League, revealed that the India-Pakistan match will be held in Sri Lanka. According to a report from news agency PTI, India will not be traveling to Pakistan for the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup, and all their matches will be held in the island nation.
The decision was made after a meeting between BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Zaka Ashraf, the representative head of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Dhumal confirmed that four matches of the tournament will be played in Pakistan, while the remaining matches, including the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash and a potential final, will take place in Sri Lanka.
“Our secretary met PCB head Zaka Ashraf, and the Asia Cup schedule was finalized as previously discussed. There will be four league stage games in Pakistan, followed by nine games in Sri Lanka, including the India-Pakistan match and a possible third match if both teams make it to the final,” Dhumal told PTI.
Dhumal dismissed reports from Pakistani media claiming that India would be traveling to Pakistan, contrary to what their sports minister Ehsan Mazari had been stating in some quarters.
“No such discussion took place. India is not traveling to Pakistan, and our secretary will not be traveling either, contrary to the surfaced reports. Only the schedule was finalized,” he clarified.
According to the report, India is likely to play Pakistan in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, just like in the 2010 edition of the tournament. Pakistan’s only home match will be against Nepal, while the other three games will feature Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh, Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan.
This will be the first time since 2016 that the subcontinent will host the Asia Cup, with the previous two editions (2018 and 2022) being hosted by the United Arab Emirates.
