The Asia Cup`s 16th edition is scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 17, 2023. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) made the official announcement of the schedule and other pertinent details about the 2023 Asia Cup. This edition of the tournament will be in ODI format. In this article, we will guide you through the schedule, fixtures, venues, and team list of the Asia Cup 2023 tournament.
Groups and Teams of Asia Cup 2023
Group A:
Pakistan, Nepal, India
Group B:
Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh
The upcoming 16th edition of the Asia Cup is set to showcase six participating teams. The first five teams have secured their spots as automatic qualifiers, and coincidentally, they are the full-member teams of the Asian Cricket Council. These five teams include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
However, the sixth team had to earn its entry through the qualifiers. Nepal successfully made its way through the qualification process and secured its place in the tournament. With these six teams ready to compete, the Asia Cup promises to be an exciting and highly anticipated cricketing event in the region.
Schedule and Fixtures of Asia Cup 2023
Table: Group wise match schedules
| Date | Match | Group | Venue | Time (Bangladesh) |
| August 30 | Nepal vs Pakistan | A | Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan | 4 PM |
| August 31 | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | B | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy | 1:30 PM |
| September 2 | India vs Pakistan | A | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy | 1:30 PM |
| September 3 | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | B | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 2:00 PM |
| September 4 | India vs Nepal | A | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy | 1:30 PM |
| September 5 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | B | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 4:00 PM |
| September 6 | A1 vs B2 | Super Four | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 4:00 PM |
| September 9 | B1 vs B2 | Super Four | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2:30 PM |
| September 10 | A1 vs A2 | Super Four | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2:30 PM |
| September 12 | A2 vs B1 | Super Four | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2:30 PM |
| September 14 | A1 vs B1 | Super Four | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2:30 PM |
| September 15 | A2 vs B2 | Super Four | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2:30 PM |
| September 17 | Super 4s-1 vs Super 4s-2 | Final | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2:30 PM |
Venues of the 2023 Asia Cup Tournament
The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The tournament will feature a total of 13 games, and each country has selected two venues to host the matches. Pakistan`s Multan Cricket Stadium and Gaddafi Cricket Stadium will host three matches, while the rest of the games will take place at Sri Lanka`s Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and R Premadasa Stadium.
The tournament will kick off with an exciting opening fixture between Pakistan and Nepal at Multan Cricket Stadium. R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, is selected for the final match.
Multan Cricket Stadium
The Multan Cricket Stadium, situated in the suburbs of Multan, Punjab, Pakistan, is a multipurpose sporting venue owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board. With a seating capacity of 35,000 spectators, the stadium, located off Vehari Road, has been a significant hub for cricket events in the region. Its inaugural test match took place in August 2001, featuring a match between Pakistan and Bangladesh during the 2001-02 Asian Test Championship.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, located in Kandy, Sri Lanka, is a renowned cricket venue. Back in July 2010, the Central Provincial Council in Kandy unveiled intentions to rename the stadium as a tribute to the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan. However, as of now, the official renaming has not taken place. Officially opened on November 27, 2009, it became the 104th Test venue in December 2010. It can host 35,000 people at a time.
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
The Gaddafi Stadium, formerly known as Lahore Stadium, is a prominent cricket venue located in Lahore, Pakistan, serving as the home ground for the Lahore Qalandars. Under the ownership of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this stadium boasts a seating capacity of 27,000, making it the fourth-largest cricket stadium in Pakistan.
One of its significant features is that Gaddafi Stadium was the first in Pakistan to be equipped with state-of-the-art floodlights, complete with their own standby power generators. This modern facility allows for night matches and enhanced visibility during evening games.
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
The R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPS) is a renowned cricket venue situated on Khettarama Road, Maligawatta, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Before June 1994, it was known as the Khettarama Cricket Stadium. Today, it stands as one of the primary arenas where the Sri Lankan cricket team regularly competes, having hosted more than 100 one-day international matches.
With an impressive capacity of 35,000 spectators, the R. Premadasa Stadium holds the distinction of being the largest stadium in Sri Lanka. Over the years, it has witnessed numerous historic cricket encounters, including notable events like the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 final between Sri Lanka and West Indies, the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy final between Sri Lanka and India, and the first semi-final of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Final Words
In total, there will be 13 matches in the Asia Cup 2023 edition. This includes six group matches, followed by six Super 4 matches, and a final to determine the champion. Cricket fans can look forward to an action-packed tournament with competitive fixtures leading up to the thrilling climax of the final match. However, September 18 is kept as a reserve day for the final.
