At the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, heavy rain on Thursday halted all groundwork. The stadium, including the outfield, was enveloped in wet conditions. Team India, which arrived in Colombo on Wednesday, was forced to conduct an indoor practice session due to the unfavorable outdoor conditions.

The question now arises: will the Asian Cricket Council reconsider and relocate the venue to Hambantota? Hambantota, approximately 260 km from Colombo, currently offers dry conditions. However, there is still a 40% chance of rain in Hambantota, leaving the ACC with a difficult decision to make.

In response to Ashraf’s proposal, Jay Shah has conveyed his assurance of a thorough evaluation of the situation.

It is worth noting that the Pakistan-India match in Kandy was significantly impacted by rain, resulting in no conclusive outcome.

It’s worth noting that Sri Lanka became a co-host for the 2023 Asia Cup after India declined to travel to Pakistan for the event. As a compromise, a hybrid model suggested by Sethi was adopted, with four matches of the Asia Cup 2023 being played in Pakistan and the remaining matches in Sri Lanka. This decision has now come under fire due to the weather-related disruptions that have plagued the tournament in Sri Lanka.

Group Stage:

• Aug 30: Pakistan vs Nepal in Multan at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Aug 31: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in Kandy at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 2: Pakistan vs India in Kandy at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 3: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan in Lahore at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 4: India vs Nepal in Kandy at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 5: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore at 3:00 pm (IST)

Super 4s:

• Sept 6: A1 vs B2 in Lahore at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 9: B1 vs B2 in Colombo at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 10: A1 vs A2 in Colombo at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 12: A2 vs B1 in Colombo at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 14: A1 vs B1 in Colombo at 3:00 pm (IST)
• Sept 15: A2 vs B2 in Colombo at 3:00 pm (IST)

Final:

• Sept 17: TBC vs TBC in Colombo at 3:00 pm (IST)
• (Note: *TBC – To be confirmed)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed its dissatisfaction with Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary and president of the Asian Cricket Council, for prematurely announcing the schedule of the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The announcement was made on social media half an hour before the PCB’s official ceremony in Lahore.

The PCB had organized an event in Lahore on July 19 to unveil the Asia Cup schedule and trophy, which was attended by former Pakistan cricketers and the PCB’s Cricket Management Committee (CMC) led by Zaka Ashraf. However, Jay Shah’s early announcement of the schedule on social media undermined the significance of the PCB’s ceremony.

According to a reliable source in the board, there was a clear understanding with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the schedule would be released five minutes after the Lahore ceremony began. The PCB conveyed its displeasure to the ACC over the incident, but the ACC cited misunderstandings over the time difference as an explanation.

Some sources in the PCB suggested that Jay Shah’s actions might be a response to the way the PCB chairman and the sports minister handled a meeting with him in Durban during the ICC annual meeting.

The Asia Cup is set to begin on August 30 in Multan, with Pakistan facing Nepal in the opening match. The much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash in Group A will take place in Kandy on September 2. Pakistan will host four of the 13 matches, including the first Super 4s fixture, while Sri Lanka will host the remaining nine matches, including the final.

Note: This content was sourced from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff, except for the headline.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has called for an urgent meeting in Dubai, set to take place on Sunday and Monday, to finalize the schedule and other crucial details for the upcoming Asia Cup. The tournament is scheduled to run from August 31 to September 17 of this year.

The meeting will be chaired by ACC President Jay Shah and will involve representatives from all member countries. Currently, PCB officials are attending ICC meetings in Durban, South Africa, and will subsequently travel to Dubai for discussions with ACC representatives.

In addition to finalizing the schedule, the ACC members will also address matters related to television rights and logistical arrangements for the tournament.

The Asia Cup will follow a hybrid model, with the first four matches hosted in Pakistan and the remaining matches held in Sri Lanka. The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan is expected to take place in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, while Pakistan’s only home match against Nepal is likely to be held in Lahore. The other three matches in Pakistan will feature Afghanistan against Bangladesh, Bangladesh against Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka against Afghanistan.

The participating teams, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, will compete in a total of 13 ODI matches. These teams have been divided into two groups, with Group A comprising Pakistan, India, and Nepal, and Group B consisting of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

After much anticipation and excitement, the Asian Cricket Council has finally announced the dates and venues for the 16th edition of the Asia Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 17 and will adopt a hybrid model, with four matches being held in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches taking place in Sri Lanka.

The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will feature two groups, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the Super Four stage. The ultimate showdown will feature the top two sides from the Super Four stage battling it out in the grand finale.

Groupings for the tournament have been finalized, with India, Pakistan, and Nepal grouped together in one pool, while Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka make up the other pool. Sri Lanka will enter the tournament as defending champions, having emerged victorious over Pakistan in last year’s final held in the United Arab Emirates in a Twenty20 format.

The previous 50-over Asia Cup took place in 2018, also in the UAE, where India claimed victory in an enthralling final against Bangladesh. Out of the 15 editions held thus far, two have been played in the T20 format, with the most recent being in 2016.

The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will be contested in the 50-over format, providing valuable preparation for the participating teams ahead of the upcoming One Day International World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by India in October-November.

ACC Confirms Asia Cup ‘Hybrid Model’ Schedule: Four Matches in Pakistan, Nine Matches in Sri Lanka

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced that the upcoming Asia Cup will adopt a “hybrid model” with four matches taking place in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches being held in Sri Lanka.

In an official statement released today, the ACC expressed its excitement for the Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to take place from August 31st to September 17th, 2023. The prestigious tournament will witness the participation of top teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, who will compete in a total of 13 thrilling ODI matches.

The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will feature two groups, with two teams from each group progressing to the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then battle it out in the final, adding to the anticipation and excitement of the tournament.

Following the India-Pakistan dispute, there are indications that Sri Lanka could be chosen as the venue for Asia Cup matches involving India, as the cricketing powerhouse has declined to visit Pakistan. An official from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) stated that a formal announcement regarding the venue is expected in the upcoming week. Due to the longstanding political tensions and lack of matches held on each other’s soil since 2012, India and Pakistan typically face each other in international tournaments at neutral locations.

The unnamed board official mentioned that it is highly likely that some of the matches will be held in Sri Lanka, although official confirmation is yet to be received. Despite facing an economic crisis that led to defaulting on foreign debt and seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka’s cricket board expressed its willingness to host matches. The official emphasized that despite the economic downturn, the country has the capability to organize an international tournament.

During the economic crisis, Sri Lanka successfully hosted the Australian cricket team, which played a series of T20 matches, ODIs, and Tests. The crisis resulted in widespread protests and the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was accused of corruption and mismanagement.

To avoid a potential boycott of the World Cup in India by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been exploring alternatives to hold the Asia Cup at a neutral venue in September. The other participating nations in the tournament are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently awaiting the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) executive committee meeting to discuss and make a decision regarding the fate of the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in two months. However, there are reports in the Indian media suggesting that a decision has already been made behind the scenes.

The PCB had proposed a “hybrid model” for the tournament, suggesting that Pakistan host the first-round matches, excluding those involving India, and then the competition moves to a neutral venue where India would participate. However, there hasn’t been any official progress on this matter.

According to a report by the Press Trust of India news agency, the PCB is left with two options: either to host the entire Asia Cup at a venue other than Pakistan or to withdraw from the tournament, which the PCB had already stated as a possible reaction if the “hybrid model” was rejected.

The report further claims that key ACC members, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, have supported the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) push to move the tournament out of Pakistan. This push was allegedly made by BCCI secretary and ACC president Jay Shah during the Indian Premier League final on May 27, where representatives from Afghanistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket were present.

It is reported that Sri Lanka Cricket is willing to host the Asia Cup if it is officially relocated from Pakistan, and their bid is backed by other members, including the BCCI.

However, the PCB possesses agreements from ACC members, other than India, stating that they have no issues with the proposed hybrid model or playing in Pakistan. These members have not officially communicated any change of mind to the PCB.

Furthermore, it has been reported that the PCB declined Sri Lanka’s offer for a three-match One-day International series during Pakistan’s two-Test tour to the country in July.

If the reports regarding the rejection of the “hybrid model” are accurate, the PCB might consider withdrawing the Pakistan team from the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be held in India in October-November. This issue could also extend to the hosting rights of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which were awarded to Pakistan two years ago, as the BCCI might refuse to travel to Pakistan due to pressure from its central government.

During a recent visit to the PCB headquarters in Lahore, the issue was discussed between the PCB’s top officials, including the board’s interim Management Committee chairman Najam Sethi, and the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chairman Greg Barclay and chief executive Geoff Allardice. However, the details of these discussions were not covered in the PCB’s press release, and the ICC has remained silent on the matter despite approaches from media outlets.