The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup has been relocated to Sri Lanka due to the Indian team’s decision not to travel to Pakistan. The IPL chairman, Arun Dhumal, confirmed this news on Wednesday, providing insights into BCCI Secretary Jay Shah’s meeting with PCB representative Zaka Ashraf.
The discussions between Shah and Ashraf took place ahead of the ICC Board meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday. Their primary agenda was to finalize the schedule for the Asia Cup 2023. According to Dhumal, the meeting successfully concluded with the confirmation of the tournament schedule. The Asia Cup will consist of four league-stage matches in Pakistan, followed by nine matches in Sri Lanka. The crucial encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan and a potential third game will be held in Sri Lanka if both teams reach the final.
Dhumal dismissed reports from Pakistani media that suggested India would travel to Pakistan. He categorically stated that there were no discussions held regarding such a visit, and neither the Indian team nor the BCCI Secretary would be travelling to Pakistan as claimed in some quarters. Dhumal emphasized that only the schedule for the tournament was finalized during the meeting.
The Asia Cup 2023 is set to be played in a hybrid model, with matches distributed between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is worth noting that India and Pakistan faced each other in Sri Lanka’s Dambulla during the 2010 edition of the tournament. Pakistan’s sole home match will be against Nepal, while the remaining three games will feature Afghanistan against Bangladesh, Bangladesh against Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka against Afghanistan.
With the confirmation of the schedule, cricket fans around the world can now look forward to an enthralling Asia Cup, despite the change in the hosting arrangements. The tournament is expected to witness intense matches as teams vie for supremacy in the region’s most prestigious cricket competition.