The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has accepted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s hybrid model for Asia Cup 2023.
As per the announcement, the Asia Cup's first phase, containing four matches, will be played in Pakistan. However, the event will then move to Sri Lanka for India matches and the knockout stage including the final. The island country will host nine matches.
The tournament, in two phases, will be played from August 31 to September 17 in 50-over format.
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Nepal will compete for the title. Nepal will be playing its first-ever Asian event. This tournament will help the Asian teams prepare for the ICC World Cup in India.
Apart from Sri Lanka and Nepal, all the teams, who will participate in the Asian event, have qualified for the mega event.
Last year, BCCI refused to travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup on political grounds.
To save the event's hosting rights, PCB had offered two options in the hybrid model. In the first option, India was asked to play their matches at a neutral venue whereas all other matches were to be played in Pakistan. In another option, four matches of the group stage in the first phase were proposed to be played in Pakistan whereas second phase, in which matches of Indian team followed by the next stage matches including the final, were to be played at a neutral venue.
The second option of the hybrid model has been accepted now. The complete schedule of the event will be announced soon.