The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced that the 2023 Asia Cup will take place from August 31 to September 17 in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The tournament will adopt a hybrid model, with four matches scheduled to be held in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches in Sri Lanka. The specific cities hosting the matches have not been disclosed yet.
The participating teams in the tournament include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, the winners of the ACC Men's Premier Cup. A total of 13 One Day International (ODI) matches will be played, serving as preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in India in October-November.
The teams have been divided into two groups, with India, Pakistan, and Nepal grouped together, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan form the other group. Sri Lanka, the defending champions, won the Asia Cup in the last 50-over format held in the UAE in 2018.
The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup, marking the tournament's 16th edition, will feature a Super Four stage where two teams from each group will qualify. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then compete in the final match.
The announcement of the Asia Cup schedule resolves the long-standing issue surrounding the tournament's organization. Reports had previously suggested that a hybrid model would be adopted, as proposed by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi. The political tensions between India and Pakistan had posed challenges, with India unable to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 edition, which Pakistan is hosting.