Asia Cup 2023: India won't go to Pakistan, rivals to face each other in Dambulla

Asia Cup 2023: India won't be travelling to Pakistan for the 16th edition of Asia Cup. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has confirmed that the highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan will not be held in Pakistan. All of India's marches will be played in Sri Lanka. The match between India and Pakistan will be played at Sri Lanla's Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. The BCCI secretary Jay Shah had met with PCB representative Zaka Ashraf to finalise the schedule for forthcoming tournament.

"Our secretary met PCB head Zaka Ashraf and the Asia Cup schedule was finalised and it is on course as it was discussed earlier. There will be four games of league stage in Pakistan, followed by 9 games in Sri Lanka including both India versus Pakistan game and in case a third game if both teams play final," IPL chairman told PTI.

"Blissfully unaware"

Recently there were reports in Pakistani media that India was to travel to Pakistan for their group matches. The reports were based on claims made by Pakistan sports minister Ehasan Mazari. Dhumal denied the claims and said there was no discussion held for India to play in Pakistan and BCCI secretary won't be travelling to Pakistan either. "Only the Schedule was finalized," he added.

A senior BCCI official said that Pakistani sports minister was 'blissfully unaware' about the earlier meeting of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) where Hybrid model was approved by PCB chairman Najam Sethi. "We aren't concerned about the internal happenings of PCB. All that we know is that PCB is a signatory to the Hybrid Model which was proposed by their representative and passed at ACC's highest body," a senior ACC official said.

Pakistan Sports Minister had made the claim that if India won't come to Pakistan for Asia Cup then Pakistan would not travel to India for ICC CWC 2023.

Back to Subcontinent

For World Cup 2023, PCB is bounded by ICC Members Participation Agreement which was signed in 2015 for a period of 8 years, ending in 2023. This edition will mark 8 years since an Asia Cup tournament was held in the subcontinent. The previous two editions of 2018 and 2022 were held in UAE with last Asia Cup of subcontinent held at Bangladesh. Pakistan's only home match will be against Nepal. If India and Pakistan make it to the final of tournament then the match will be played at Dambulla only.

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