After much wait, the schedule of the Asia Cup 2023 was finally announced by BCCI secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head – Mr. Jay Shah. The timings of the games were also announced on Tuesday. This time the much-awaited tournament will be played in a hybrid model after Shah declared last year that India would not be traveling to Pakistan for Asia Cup.
The Asia Cup 2023 tournament will begin with a match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan, Pakistan, on August 30. The much-awaited India-Pakistan clash will take place in Kandy, Sri Lanka, on September 2.
Team India Will Sport ‘Pakistan’ On Their Asia Cup 2023 Jerseys
Meanwhile, for the first time ever, the Indian cricket team will don the name of Pakistan on their jerseys during the Asia Cup 2023.
Yes, you read that right. Though, team India will play all their games in Sri Lanka as the BCCI earlier mentioned their reluctance to travel to Pakistan. But since Pakistan is the primary host of the tournament, the Indian cricket team will have to don the country name ‘Pakistan’ on their jersey. Just above the Asia Cup 2023 logo, Pakistan’s name will be seen.
Team India will kickstart their campaign in the Asia Cup 2023 with a game against Pakistan on September 2. Interestingly, the two arch-rivals can face each other two more times if they manage to make it to the Super 4s and the final of the Continental Cup.
The last time the Indian cricket team took part in the Asia Cup in 2022 they failed to reach the finals. This time Rohit Sharma and his team would be eager to win Asia Cup for the seventh time.
All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma-led team India as they will enter the contest as the favorites. However, the team will need to fix their combinations ahead of the World Cup 2023.
The recently-concluded ODI series against the West Indies didn’t go as per the plan as a few of the fringe players failed to grab the opportunity. With Jasprit Bumrah, and KL Rahul set to return for Asia Cup 2023, team India would be hoping to get their combinations right, especially with the World Cup 2023 just around the corner.
