Asia’s cricket giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get a final chance to size each other up before October’s 50-over World Cup when the Asia Cup begins on Wednesday.
After months of deliberation, originating from issues concerning political tension and scheduling conflicts, the 13-match tournament will finally get underway in Pakistan this week.
Six nations are participating in the 16th edition of the tournament, five of which will feature in the subsequent World Cup in India.
Watch every ball of the 2023 Asia Cup LIVE on Kayo Sports – 30th Aug-17th Sep. Join now and start streaming instantly >
The three-week tournament, hosted jointly by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will feature two groups of three nations, with four teams progressing through to the Super Fours stage before a final on September 17.
Fierce rivals Pakistan and India are scheduled to face off at a neutral venue in Kandy on September 2, and the two nations could feasibly come up against each other again later in the tournament.
After the Asia Cup, India will host Australia for a three-match ODI series, serving as ideal preparation ahead of the highly-anticipated World Cup.
Fiery rivals India and Pakistan could clash as many as three times if they go all the way in the six-nation continental championship.
Babar Azam’s Pakistan, who became the world’s top-ranked ODI team after last week’s 3-0 series sweep against Afghanistan, open their campaign at home on Wednesday against Asia Cup debutants Nepal in Multan.
Azam, who scored 113 runs in the Afghanistan series, leads a side containing a triple-pronged fast bowling attack in Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
World Cup hosts India, led by Rohit Sharma, will open their campaign against Pakistan in a hotly anticipated clash on Saturday in Pallekele.
India and Pakistan, who only play against each other in international tournaments due to the countries’ long-standing political tensions, are expected to meet again in the Super Four stage and could face off for a third time in the final.
“It’s not just Pakistan, there are other teams,” Rohit said of the hype surrounding the Pakistan clashes, with the rivals also scheduled to meet in the 50-over World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 14.
“Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup last year. So there are other teams who are playing good cricket and will challenge us.”
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Rohit said the Asia Cup was the perfect place to “test ourselves, try and put ourselves under pressure and respond to that pressure.” India’s batting has been boosted by the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer alongside Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Rohit.
The 50-over World Cup begins on October 5 in India.
Sri Lanka, who won the Asia Cup last year in Dubai when it was played as a Twenty20 tournament, have been hit by injuries ahead of their opener against Bangladesh in Kandy on Thursday .
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera is all but out of the tournament with a shoulder injury and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is doubtful for at least the group matches having missed the Lanka Premier League final eight days ago with a thigh strain.
Bangladesh have had a difficult build-up with Tamim Iqbal stepping down as captain and missing the tournament with a back injury as he tries to get fit for the World Cup.
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been reappointed captain through to the end of the World Cup. He previously led Bangladesh for 50 one-day internationals between 2009 and 2017.
Afghanistan, despite their recent loss to Pakistan, can pose problems with their potent spin attack of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.
They also have in-form batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz who smashed 151 in a losing cause in the second game against Pakistan.
Minnows Nepal could be in for a baptism of fire having been clubbed with India and Pakistan in Group A. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan make up Group B.
The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Four with the leading two in the standings contesting the final.
HOW TO WATCH
Every match of the 2023 Asia Cup will be played live and exclusive on Foxtel and streaming platform Kayo.
Watch every ball of the 2023 Asia Cup LIVE on Kayo Sports – 30th Aug-17th Sep. Join now and start streaming instantly >
FIXTURES (all matches start at 7.30pm AEST on dates listed)
Wednesday, August 30 — Pakistan vs Nepal, Multan
Thursday, August 31 — Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Kandy
Saturday, September 2 — Pakistan vs India, Kandy
Sunday, September 3 — Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Lahore
Monday, September 4 — India vs Nepal, Kandy
Tuesday, September 5 — Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Lahore
Wednesday, September 6 — A1 vs B2, Lahore
Saturday, September 9 — B1 vs B2, Colombo
Sunday, September 10 — A1 vs A2, Colombo
Tuesday, September 12 — A2 vs B1, Colombo
Thursday, September 14 — A1 vs B1, Colombo
Friday, September 15 — A2 vs B2, Colombo
Sunday, September 17 — Final (Super Fours 1 vs Super Fours 2), Colombo
SQUADS
Pakistan
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.
India
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mamhud, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Mohammad Naim
Nepal
Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud
Afghanistan
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Sri Lanka (likely)
Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
TOURNAMENT ODDS (via TAB)
India $1.80
Pakistan $3.30
Sri Lanka $7
Bangladesh $10
Afghanistan $21
Nepal $201
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2022 — Sri Lanka (T20)
2018 — India
2016 — India (T20)
2014 — Sri Lanka
2012 — Pakistan
2010 — India
2008 — Sri Lanka
2004 — Sri Lanka
2000 — Pakistan
1997 — Sri Lanka
1995 — India
1990 — India
1988 — India
1986 — Sri Lanka
1984 — India
