The schedule for the Asia Cup 2023 is out. The continental tournament this time will be played in a hybrid model in Pakistan and in Sri Lanka. The Cup will get underway on August 30 in Multan and the final will be played on September 17 in Colombo.
The marquee clash between India and Pakistan in Group A is slated for September 2 in Kandy. If both teams make it to the Super 4s, knocking out Nepal, India and Pakistan will meet again on September 10 in Colombo. There is a chance of a third match between the two arch-rivals, if they reach the final, on September 17 in Colombo.
The Cup 2023 will be the 16th edition of this continental event.
Sri Lanka won the Cup 2022 when it was held in the T20 format. This time the Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format, playing as a rehearsal for the teams for the World Cup 2023. The last time it was played in the ODI format was in 2018, when India emerged victorious.
Who has won the Asia Cup most number of times?
Team India is the most successful team in Cup history having won the continental trophy 7 times, followed by Sri Lanka who have been Asia Cup winners on 6 occasions, while Pakistan have won it only twice.
Bangladesh have never won the Cup tournament, but they have finished runner-up three times.
List of Asia Cup winners:
India- 7 times: 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018
Sri Lanka- 6 times: 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022
Pakistan- 2 times: 2000, 2012
Bangladesh lost in the finals of 2012, 2016, 2018
Three other nations have also featured in the Asia Cup tournaments in the past: Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and the UAE. Afghanistan will be part of the Asia Cup 2023 as well while Nepal will make their maiden appearance in the Asia Cup this year.
The first-ever Asia Cup tournament was held in 1984 in Sharjah, where India won under the captaincy of Sunil Gavaskar. Rohit Sharma was India’s captain in the 2018 Asia Cup as Virat Kohli, the then regular skipper, was rested. Rohit led India last year in the tournament as well, but India failed to reach the final, where Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan. This will be the third time that Rohit will be leading India in the Cup.
