By a Staff Reporter
The highly anticipated Asia Cup, featuring Nepal among the participating nations, has been officially confirmed to take place in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) made the announcement on Thursday, revealing that the One Day ACC Cup 2023 will be held from August 31 to September 17, with matches scheduled in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The tournament will consist of four matches hosted in Pakistan, while the remaining matches will be held in Sri Lanka. Due to India’s decision not to play in Pakistan, the ACC devised a new model that entails conducting nine matches in Sri Lanka to accommodate the participating teams.
Nepal has been grouped alongside cricket powerhouses India and Pakistan in Group A’. Meanwhile, Group ‘B’ consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Nepal is set to face Pakistan in Pakistan itself, while their clash with India will take place in Sri Lanka.
Nepal secured its spot in the Asia Cup by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the finals of the ACC Premier Cup, held at the TU Cricket Ground last month. This marks a significant milestone for Nepal’s cricketing journey, as they prepare to compete against India and Pakistan for the first time in their history.
The Asia Cup faced uncertainty due to the political tensions between India and Pakistan. As a result, the ACC devised a hybrid model, organizing the tournament in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka to ensure the event’s successful execution.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Four stage. Following matches among the Super Four teams, the top two sides will advance to the finals, where the ultimate winner will be determined.
