According to Espncricinfo, the Men’s Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates from 20259 to 28 September, ACC President and PCB President Mohsin Naqvi confirmed.
The tournament will follow the T20I format and follow eight teams – five full members of the eight teams – the Asian Cricket Council (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), as well as the eight teams along with UAE, Oman and Hong Kong.
The tournament opener has been kept between Afghanistan and Hong Kong on 9 September. India will discontinue its campaign against UAE on 10 September, while the high-voltage game against Pakistan is scheduled for 14th.
India will play their final group phase stability against Oman on 19 September. After the group’s phase, the tournament will proceed to Super 4, where the top two teams of each group will qualify. The final is scheduled on 28 September.
India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman are in Group A, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong Group B.
Although India is a formal tournament host, according to an agreement between BCCI and PCB, a neutral site will be provided for the opposing team for a period of three years for competitions held in India or Pakistan.
The agreement came before the Champions Trophy held in Pakistan earlier this year. During that tournament, India played all their matches against the host Pakistan in Dubai. India won the finals, which was also held in Dubai.
India is the defending champion of the Asia Cup. In 2023, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, and Sri Lanka was selected as a neutral site for India’s fixtures.
In May, various reports and speculation exploded on social media, suggesting that India refused to participate in this year’s Asia Cup and the emerging teams of women due to cross -border tension between India and Pakistan.
Reports have claimed that the BCCI had informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) about its decision to withdraw from both incidents – the female rising team to be held in the Asia Cup, the Asia Cup, the next month in Sri Lanka, and the men’s Asia Cup, Slated for September.
BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia clearly denied the claims, stating that the BCCI has not engaged in such a conversation or has taken any step about ACC incidents. The BCCI Secretary labeled the reports as “betting and fictional”. (AI)