After much deliberation, the Asia Cup cricket tournament, the second-largest cricket event after the ICC World Cup, is set to commence today at the Multan Stadium in Pakistan. In the day-night opener, the host and cricket giants, Pakistan, will face off against the minnows and debutantes, Nepal, at 3:30 pm (BST). The final of the tournament will take place on September 17 in Colombo.
Bangladesh will kick off their campaign by facing the co-host and reigning champions of the tournament, Sri Lanka, at Pallekele, also at 3:30 pm (BST).
Meanwhile, the organizers faced significant challenges while attempting to stage the 16th edition of the tournament due to the ongoing tug of war between India and Pakistan. The situation became increasingly problematic, to the point where the biennial tournament was on the verge of cancellation.
The 2023 Asia Cup was designated to be hosted by Pakistan as per the rotation, but India refused to travel there due to political tensions and rivalries. This created a dilemma for the organizers in deciding the host country.
The situation escalated as India declined to visit Pakistan due to political tensions and ego, which ultimately led to the potential relocation of the tournament from Pakistan. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) attempted to shift the hosting to the UAE, but this proposal was not successful as Pakistan did not agree.
After extensive negotiations and much back-and-forth, the ACC finally reached a resolution to co-host the tournament with a 'Hybrid Model.' Pakistan (Lahore and Multan) will host only four games, while Sri Lanka (Pallekele and Colombo) will host nine games, including the final.
Despite the animosity, the traditional rivals might face each other up to three times in two-and-a-half weeks. This could occur if one of the teams is knocked out, and if there is a major upset where Pakistan loses to Nepal.
India and Pakistan last faced each other in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England. Now, they are poised to meet three times in a span of two-and-a-half weeks.
Their initial encounter will be in their Group A game on September 2 in Pallekele. Unless one of them loses to Nepal, it is likely they will meet in the Super Four round as well. If they finish as the top two teams in the Super Four round, an India-Pakistan final could materialize for the first time in an Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka are the reigning champions, with Pakistan as the runners-up, while favorites India were eliminated in the Super Fours during last year’s edition. India has won the Asia Cup seven times, followed by Sri Lanka with six wins, and Pakistan with two titles.
The Asia Cup also serves as a final dress rehearsal for the ICC World Cup for the cricket giants of Asia: India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, too, will leave no stone unturned to secure a final chance in the tournament.
The ICC Men’s World Cup, the pinnacle event of world cricket, is set to take place just 22 days after the Asia Cup final, starting on October 5 in India.
