The Asian Cricket Council on Thursday announced the dates for the upcoming men’s Asia Cup 2023. The tournament which is set to see regional teams clash against each other will be played in hybrid mode, the body confirmed. The Asian tournament will begin on August 31 and the final will be held on September 17.
“We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will see elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal competing in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches Matches,” the ACC wrote in a statement released.
What will be the hybrid model?
The hybrid model used for the tournament will see four matches being played in Pakistan, while the rest of the games will be played in Sri Lanka. The group structure is similar to the Asia Cup T20 in 2022. The tournament will have two groups with three teams each. The top two teams will qualify for the Super Four. After that the top two teams of that stage will advance to the finals.
BCCI and PCB were at loggerheads over the venue of the Asia Cup 2023. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had earlier said that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the continental tournament. The PCB reacted quickly and threatened to pull out of the World Cup. But the Pakistan board then proposed a hybrid model to resolve the impasse.
Pakistan reportedly introduced two options in its hybrid model. In the first, India will play its matches at a neutral venue while the other matches will be held in Pakistan. The second states that the opening phase of the event will have four group stage matches in Pakistan while the Indian matches in the second phase will be followed by the next phase matches and the final will be played outside Pakistan.