Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has assured full support to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in hosting Asia Cup in August-September this year.
PCB's delegation, under the leadership of Management Committee head Zaka Ashraf, met Dar in Islamabad today.
The delegation discussed two upcoming international events, Asia Cup and World Cup, with Dar.
PCB is set to host the Asia Cup for the first time after 2018. The first four matches of the event will take place in Pakistan after which the league will move to Sri Lanka where nine matches including the final will be played.
The tournament is scheduled from August 30 to September 17. The hosts Pakistan will take on Nepal in the opening match on August 30 in Multan.
Complete schedule
Group Stage
Aug 30 - Pakistan vs Nepal in Multan
Aug 31 - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in Kandy
Sept 2 - Pakistan vs India in Kandy
Sept 3 - Bangladesh vs Afghanistan in Lahore
Sept 4 - India vs Nepal in Kandy
Sept 5 - Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore
Super 4s
Sept 6 - A1 vs B2 in Lahore
Sept 9 - B1 vs B2 in Colombo
Sept 10 - A1 vs A2 in Colombo
Sept 12 - A2 vs B1 in Colombo
Sept 14 - A1 vs B1 in Colombo
Sept 15 - A2 vs B2 in Colombo
Sept 17 - Final in Colombo
*Positions irrespective of teams' positions after first round
- Pakistan will remain A1
- India will remain A 2
- If either of them (India and Pakistan) don't qualify for Super 4s then Nepal will take their position
- Sri Lanka will remain B1
- Bangladesh will remain B2
- If either of them (Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) don't qualify for Super 4s then Afghanistan will take their position
Ashraf Malkham