India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 matches to be held in Sri Lanka as ACC approves PCB's hybrid model 

Asia Cup 2023 (Source: Twitter)

After months of uncertainty, the Asian Cricket Council has given the green light for the 2023 Asia Cup and approved the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) hybrid model of hosting the tournament. Pakistan, who has the hosting rights, will host four matches, with the remaining nine matches taking place in Sri Lanka. The 50 over tournament runs from August 31 to September 17.

The ACC's approval of the hybrid model follows the Indian Cricket Board's refusal to travel to Pakistan owing to security concerns. There were reports that if the ACC did not grant Pakistan the right to host their matches, they would not compete in the Asian tournament and even boycott the ODI World Cup, which is set to begin in India later this year.

“We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will see the elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, compete in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches. The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka,” the ACC said in a statement.

India is grouped alongside Pakistan and Nepal

The Asia Cup 2023 will be featuring six teams - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal. Like the previous edition, the tournament consists of two groups, with two teams from each group qualifying for the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then meet in the final.

The council has confirmed that India-Pakistan fixtures will take place in Sri Lanka. The arch-rivals can potentially face each other three times this year. The ACC is expected to announce the fixtures and venues of Asia Cup 2023 in the coming days.

India is grouped alongside Pakistan and Nepal, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the second group. Sri Lanka are the defending Asia Cup champion after defeating Pakistan in the 2022 summit showdown in the United Arab Emirates.