Catch the Excitement: Asia Cup 2023 is just around the corner! This time, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are sharing hosting duties, and the event is scheduled to begin on August 30 and go through September 17. Six awesome teams are taking part in this event, and four of them have already revealed their squads. The remaining two teams, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, are yet to unveil their line-ups.
A Historic Moment for Nepal
One of the most exciting highlights is that Nepal is making its debut appearance in the Asia Cup! They’re placed in Group A, alongside cricket giants India and Pakistan. Group B, which includes Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, is on the opposing side.
The One Day International (ODI) format of this competition provides Asian countries with an excellent opportunity to be ready for the forthcoming ICC World Cup in India in 2023.
Let the Matches Begin!
The opening match of the tournament will take place on August 30 in the city of Multan. It will be a face-off between Pakistan and Nepal, promising an electrifying start to the competition. The six teams have been divided into two groups. Group A includes India, the host country Pakistan, and Nepal. Meanwhile, Group B features Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. Multan will witness the excitement of the first game, while Kandy will host the first match on Sri Lankan soil, between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on August 31.
Mark Your Calendars for These Epic Matches
A real showstopper is scheduled for September 2: India will clash with Pakistan in Kandy, promising an unforgettable match. The Indian team will then take on Nepal on the same grounds on September 4. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, where the competition will intensify. From there, the top two teams will move on to the finals, all in the 50-over format. The One Day International (ODI) format of this competition provides Asian countries with an excellent opportunity to be ready for the forthcoming ICC World Cup in India in 2023.
Teams Revealed – Stars in Action
Let’s take a look at the squads that have been announced:
Nepal:
Rohit Paudel (Captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Asif Sheikh (wicketkeeper), Bhim Sharkey, Kushal Malla, Arif Sheikh, Deepender Singh Airey, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Shyam Dhakal, Sandeep Jora, Kishore Mahto, and Arjun Saud.
Bangladesh:
Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tauheed Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmood, Sheikh Mahedi, Nasum Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Abadot Hussain, Mohammad Naeem.
Pakistan:
Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (Captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tyeb Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan (Vice-Captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.
India:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice-Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Krishna. Backup: Sanju Samson.
Mark Your Calendar!
Here’s the schedule for the upcoming matches of Asia Cup 2023:
- August 30: Pakistan vs Nepal in Multan
- August 31: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in Kandy
- September 2: Pakistan vs India in Kandy
- September 3: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan in Lahore
- September 4: India vs Nepal in Kandy
- September 5: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore
The excitement doesn’t end there! The Super Four stage begins on September 6 and leads to the grandfinale on September 17, where the top teams will compete for the ultimate victory. So, get ready for an unforgettable cricket spectacle – the Asia Cup 2023!