Asia Cup 2023 after all the tensions and drama due to India refusing to travel to Pakistan due to political unrest is finally scheduled to take place in the month of September 2023 after the hybrid model proposed by the PCB was accepted by the BCCI. The tournament will take place between 31 August to 17 September, originally to be hosted by Pakistan, but will now be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Yes, you heard it right! Pakistan is set to host the first multinational tournament since The Asia Cup 2008 where Srilanka went on to become the Asian Champions defeating India.
This time it will be played in 50-over format as opposed to previously which was in T20 format in a bid to prepare for the T20 World Cup later that year. As of 2016, It was decided that the tournament will be played on a rotation basis in ODI and T20I formats. The tournament being the ODI format this year will help the teams in the build-up to the ODI World Cup in the following month in similar conditions. This will be an opportunity for the teams to have a final look at their squads and get match practice for the bigger occasion.
Six teams will be participating in the tournament with ICC Full Members India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan already qualified, and Nepal who qualified from the 2023 ACC Premier Cup. The teams are divided into two groups:
| Group A | Group B |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| India | Afghanistan |
| Nepal | Bangladesh |
Two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four. Each team in the Super Four will play once against every other team and the top two teams will lock horns in the Final.
The most awaited fixture will be between the arch rivals India and Pakistan where we can expect some serious atmosphere and exhilarating contest between bat and bowl.
If we talk about the squads, the teams will look to carry most of the players from the Asia Cup to the World Cup. There won’t be many changes in the squads as every team will look to keep the core group and give them enough time to assess the conditions and prove their position in the squad. Asia Cup’s performances will play a key role in the confidence building of teams for the grand occasion.
In today’s cricket, no team can be taken lightly. So, expect some nail-biting encounters and be prepared for some upsets as all six teams will put up their best foot forward to be crowned as the Asian Champions.
