After a tussle for months between the Indian and Pakistan cricket boards, the official schedule of the Asia Cup was finally released on Wednesday. Pakistan retained the hosting rights but will stage only four of the 13 matches in this biennial competition. Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal are the other teams in the field for this ODI competition.
The tournament will begin on August 30 with Pakistan facing Nepal in Multan. Three other matches will be held in Lahore, including one likely Pakistan Super 4 fixture on September 6. All the other matches will be played in Sri Lanka, three in Kandy and six in Colombo, including the final on September 17.
Aug 30, Wed
Pakistan vs Nepal, 1st Match, Group A Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
Match starts at Aug 30, 10:00 GMT
8:00 PM10:00 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
Aug 31, Thu
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Match, Group B Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Match starts at Aug 31, 07:30 GMT
5:30 PM07:30 AM GMT / 01:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 02, Sat
Pakistan vs India, 3rd Match, Group APallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Match starts at Sep 02, 07:30 GMT
5:30 PM07:30 AM GMT / 01:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 03, Sun
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 4th Match, Group BGaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Match starts at Sep 03, 08:00 GMT
6:00 PM08:00 AM GMT / 01:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 04, Mon
India vs Nepal, 5th Match, Group APallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Match starts at Sep 04, 07:30 GMT
5:30 PM07:30 AM GMT / 01:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 05, Tue
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, 6th Match, Group BGaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Match starts at Sep 05, 10:00 GMT
8:00 PM10:00 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 06, Wed
A1 vs B2, Super Fours, 1st MatchGaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Match starts at Sep 06, 10:00 GMT
8:00 PM10:00 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 09, Sat
B1 vs B2, Super Fours, 2nd MatchR.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Match starts at Sep 09, 08:30 GMT
6:30 PM08:30 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 10, Sun
A1 vs A2, Super Fours, 3rd MatchR.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Match starts at Sep 10, 08:30 GMT
6:30 PM08:30 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 12, Tue
A2 vs B1, Super Fours, 4th MatchR.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Match starts at Sep 12, 08:30 GMT
6:30 PM08:30 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 14, Thu
A1 vs B1, Super Fours, 5th MatchR.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Match starts at Sep 14, 08:30 GMT
6:30 PM08:30 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 15, Fri
A2 vs B2, Super Fours, 6th Match R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Match starts at Sep 15, 08:30 GMT
6:30 PM08:30 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Sep 17, Sun
TBC vs TBC, Final R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Match starts at Sep 17, 08:30 GMT
6:30 PM08:30 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
The big-ticket India-Pakistan round-robin clash will take place in Kandy on September 2 and the expected rematch in the Super 4 stage is scheduled for September 10 in Colombo.
The commercial success of the competition hinges on the India-Pakistan showdown, with a format tailor-made for them to clash at least twice; both are placed in the same group with the Associate side (Nepal qualified). Regardless of where India and Pakistan finish in the group stage, Pakistan will remain A1 and India A2, to meet Indiaâs wish to play only at a neutral venue.
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