After much anticipation and excitement, the Asian Cricket Council has finally announced the dates and venues for the 16th edition of the Asia Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 17 and will adopt a hybrid model, with four matches being held in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches taking place in Sri Lanka.

The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will feature two groups, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the Super Four stage. The ultimate showdown will feature the top two sides from the Super Four stage battling it out in the grand finale.

Groupings for the tournament have been finalized, with India, Pakistan, and Nepal grouped together in one pool, while Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka make up the other pool. Sri Lanka will enter the tournament as defending champions, having emerged victorious over Pakistan in last year’s final held in the United Arab Emirates in a Twenty20 format.

The previous 50-over Asia Cup took place in 2018, also in the UAE, where India claimed victory in an enthralling final against Bangladesh. Out of the 15 editions held thus far, two have been played in the T20 format, with the most recent being in 2016.

The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will be contested in the 50-over format, providing valuable preparation for the participating teams ahead of the upcoming One Day International World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by India in October-November.