Pakistan and India agree to play each other in Sri Lanka as Asia Cup announces schedule

Delayed by political tensions between cricket rivals Pakistan and India, the Asia Cup's long-awaited schedule was announced on Wednesday with Multan hosting the opening game between Pakistan and Nepal on Aug.30.

The Asian Cricket Council accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) hybrid model for the event after India refused to travel to Pakistan. Sri Lanka was chosen as joint host with Pakistan for the Aug. 30-Sept. 17 tournament.

After its opener at home in Multan, Pakistan will travel to Sri Lanka where it will take on India at Kandy on Sept.2. If both countries qualify for the Super 4s, they will play in Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

The schedule of the tournament went through several changes and in the original draft Pakistan was scheduled to host four games in Lahore.

But after Zaka Ashraf replaced Najam Sethi as the new head of the PCB management committee, Multan was added into the plans by the PCB.

Sri Lanka will host nine matches.

The Sri Lankan capital Colombo will host five Super Four stage games, as well as the final on Sept.19.

Pakistan, India and Nepal are in Group A while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in Group B.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage, and if both Pakistan and India qualify, they will meet again in Colombo on September 10. The top two teams from Super Four stage will play the final.

The Asia Cup will be played to 50-overs to allow five of the six teams — excluding Nepal — to tune up for the ODI World Cup from Oct.5 to Nov.19.

The Asia Cup fixture announcement ends a year-long stand-off after India refused to tour the host country Pakistan because of political tensions, raising doubts over the holding of the event.

Earlier this month, a hybrid model was agreed upon, with four matches in Pakistan and the remaining nine in Sri Lanka.

Schedule:

Aug.30 — Pakistan v Nepal, Multan

Aug.31 — Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Kandy

Sept.2 — Pakistan v India, Kandy

Sept.3 — Bangladesh v Afghanistan, Lahore

Sept.4 — India v Nepal, Kandy

Sept.5 — Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore

Sept.6 — A1 v B2 (Super-4), Lahore

Sept9 — B1 v B2 (Super-4), Colombo

Sept.10 — A1 v A2 (Super-4), Colombo

Sept.12 — A2 v B1 (Super-4), Colombo

Sept.14 — A1 v B1 (Super-4), Colombo

Sept15 — A2 v B2, (Super-4), Colombo

Sept.17 — Final — 1 v 2, Colombo

Sept.18 — Reserve day for the final