Cricket News: India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash scheduled for September 2

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has shifted the start date of the 2023 Asia Cup from August 30 to August 29, with Pakistan facing India on September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the event will begin in Multan with hosts Pakistan taking on Nepal, with the summit showdown planned on September 17 in Colombo.

These matchups are on the most recent draught schedule, which will almost certainly alter before the ACC releases the final one.

The six-nation tournament being hosted in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in accordance with the hybrid model recently agreed by the ACC has resulted in numerous alterations to the PCB's (the hosting board's) initial draught schedule.

The tournament will feature 13 games, all of which will begin at 1 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time and 1.30 p.m. Sri Lanka and Indian Standard Time. 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 advance to the Super Four stage, where the top two teams will play in the final game.

With the exception of Nepal, five of the six nations competing in the 50-over Asia Cup are training for the ODI World Cup, which begins on October 5 in India.

Originally, the PCB intended for Pakistan to host all four of its matches in a single city. However, Multan was added as the second location after the new PCB management, led by new chairman Zaka Ashraf, took control earlier this month.

Lahore will host three matches and one Super Fours game, whereas Multan will only host the opening game, according to the draught schedule.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh will play on September 3 in Lahore, while Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will play on September 5 at the Gaddafi Stadium.

According to the draught schedule, Pakistan and India will remain A1 and A2, respectively, regardless of where they finish in the first round, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will remain B1 and B2, respectively.

If they make it to the Super Four stage, Nepal and Afghanistan will take the place of the ousted team. In Group A, it will be either Pakistan or India, while in Group B, it will be Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Super Fours game between A1 and B2 on September 6 is the only one on the draught schedule that will take place in Pakistan. If both India and Pakistan qualify for the Super Fours, they will play again on September 10 in Kandy.

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