New Delhi: Prepare for a cricketing extravaganza as the much-awaited Asia Cup 2023 commences on August 30, 2023. The prestigious tournament will witness the participation of six teams, including Nepal for the first time. This year, the Asia Cup is being organized in a ‘Hybrid Model,’ with Pakistan and Sri Lanka jointly hosting the matches.
India’s matches to be played in Sri Lanka
All of India’s matches will take place in Sri Lanka, while host nation Pakistan will not only face India in Candy but will also host some matches in Multan and Lahore. Sri Lanka, the reigning champions of the Asia Cup, clinched victory in the 2022 edition held in Dubai—though the previous year’s tournament was played in T20 format.
India in Group A with Pakistan
The last Asia Cup tournament in the One Day International (ODI) format was held in 2018, where India emerged victorious by defeating Bangladesh in the finals in Dubai. Coincidentally, in 2018, Rohit Sharma captained the Indian team to victory. In 2023, Rohit Sharma will once again lead the Indian team, and on September 2, they are set to lock horns against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallakele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, under the leadership of Babar Azam.
The Asia Cup 2023 Format
The Asia Cup 2023 will witness a total of 13 matches. In the initial stage, teams from each group will compete against each other. Subsequently, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 4 stage. In the Super 4 stage, each team will play against the other, leading to the top two teams competing in the final on September 17.
Asia Cup 2023 Schedule
The schedule for the Asia Cup 2023 is as follows:
- August 30: Pakistan vs. Nepal, Multan, Pakistan, 2:30 PM
- August 31: Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, Candy, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 2: Pakistan vs. India, Candy, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 3: Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan, Lahore, Pakistan, 2:30 PM
- September 4: India vs. Nepal, Candy, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 5: Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan, Lahore, Pakistan, 2:30 PM
- September 6: A1 vs. B2, Lahore, Pakistan, 2:30 PM
- September 9: B1 vs. B2, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 10: A1 vs. A2, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 12: A2 vs. B1, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 14: A1 vs. B1, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 15: A2 vs. B2, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
- September 17: Final (Super 4 Team 1 vs. Super 4 Team 2), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3:00 PM
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Asia Cup 2023 Squads
The squads for the Asia Cup 2023 are as follows:
- Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Ali Khil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed, Suleman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
- Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Litton Kumar Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam, Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Tawhid Hridoy, Shak Mahedi Hasan.
- Pakistan: Babar Azam (Captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftekhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Harris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Waseem Junior, Nasim Shah, Shahin Afridi, Saud Shakeel.
- Nepal: Rohit Paudel (Captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Asif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousam Dakhala, Sandeep Jora, Kishor Mahato, Arjun Saud.
- India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilkaratne, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Sharadul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
Live Streaming and Telecast Information
For those on the go, all the Asia Cup 2023 matches can be streamed for free on Disney Plus Hotstar in India. Additionally, cricket enthusiasts can catch the live telecast of Asia Cup 2023 on Star Sports.
With the Asia Cup 2023 set to captivate cricket lovers across the globe, fans eagerly anticipate the nail-biting clashes and standout performances that await in this thrilling tournament.
