Cricket Asia Cup 2023: An In-depth Preview and Analysis | Asia Cup 2023 Format, Schedule, Squads, Points Table, Where to Watch
The Asia Cup 2023 is set to be an exciting cricket tournament featuring the top Asian teams.
Hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the tournament will take place from August 30 to September 17.
| Tournament Info | |
| Total Matches | 13 |
| Venues | 4 |
| Host Countries | Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
| Official Host | Pakistan |
| Teams | 6 |
| First Match | Multan |
| Final | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Venues | Lahore, Multan, Kandy, Colombo |
Asia Cup 2023 Format:
The Asia Cup 2023 will feature 6 teams – Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal.
Asia Cup 2023 will be played in ODI (One Day International) Format.
The tournament format includes a group stage and a Super 4 round before the finals.
The group stage will comprise 2 groups – Group A and Group B. Each group has 3 teams. The top 2 teams from each group will progress to the Super 4 round.
The Super 4 round will have 4 teams playing against each other in a round-robin format. The top 2 teams will then face off in the finals of the Asia Cup 2023.
Asia Cup 2023 Host and Venues:
The Asia Cup 2023 will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The group stage matches will be held in Pakistan while the Super 4 games and the finals will take place in Sri Lanka.
Here are the 4 host venues for the tournament:
- Multan, Pakistan
- Lahore, Pakistan
- Kandy, Sri Lanka
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
Pakistan will host the opening game and the first few group matches in Multan and Lahore. The remaining games from the Super 4 stage to the finals will be held across Kandy and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Asia Cup 2023 Group Stage
The group stage will feature 6 matches between the 6 teams split into 2 groups of 3 teams each.
Group A
- Pakistan
- India
- Nepal
Group B
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Afghanistan
Here is the group stage schedule:
| Match | Teams | Date | Venue |
| 1 | Pakistan vs Nepal | Aug 30 | Multan, Pakistan |
| 2 | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Aug 31 | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| 3 | Pakistan vs India | Sept 2 | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| 4 | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | Sept 3 | Lahore, Pakistan |
| 5 | Nepal vs India | Sept 4 | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| 6 | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan | Sept 5 | Lahore, Pakistan |
The group stage will feature some high-voltage matches like India vs Pakistan encounter and the clashes like the rising Cricket Rivalry between the two Asian teams, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The top 2 teams from each group will progress to the Super 4 stage.
Super 4 Stage
The Super 4 stage will see the top 2 teams from Group A and Group B play against each other in a round-robin format. This stage comprises 6 matches.
Here are the Super 4 matches:
| Match | Teams | Date | Venue |
| 7 | A1 vs B2 | Sept 6 | Lahore, Pakistan |
| 8 | B1 vs B2 | Sept 9 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 9 | A1 vs A2 | Sept 10 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 10 | A2 vs B1 | Sept 12 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 11 | A1 vs B1 | Sept 14 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 12 | A2 vs B2 | Sept 15 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
A1= 1st in Group A, A2 = 2nd in Group A, B1= 1st in Group B, B2= 2nd in Group B
All the Super 4 games will be held in Sri Lanka across Colombo. The top 2 teams at the end of the Super 4 stage will qualify for the Asia Cup finals.
Asia Cup 2023 Finals
The Asia Cup 2023 will conclude with the finals scheduled for September 17 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The summit clash will see the top 2 teams from the Super 4 stage face off for the coveted Asia Cup 2023 title.
Given the exciting line-up of teams, the Asia Cup 2023 finals promises to be a thrilling encounter between 2 Asian heavyweights of cricket.
Asia Cup 2023 Teams Squads
The Following are the Possible Squads for Asia Cup 2023
India Squad:
| Player |
|---|
| Rohit Sharma (c) |
| Virat Kohli |
| Suryakumar Yadav |
| Shubman Gill |
| Hardik Pandya |
| Ravindra Jadeja |
| KL Rahul (w) |
| Kuldeep Yadav |
| Mohammed Shami |
| Mohammed Siraj |
| Jasprit Bumrah |
| Axar Patel |
| Shardul Thakur |
| Ishan Kishan |
| Shreyas Iyer |
| Yuzvendra Chahal |
| Umran Malik |
Pakistan Squad:
| Player |
|---|
| Babar Azam (c) |
| Fakhar Zaman |
| Imam-ul-Haq |
| Mohammad Rizwan (w) |
| Saud Shakeel |
| Shadab Khan |
| Mohammad Nawaz |
| Mohammad Wasim Jr |
| Abdullah Shafique |
| Haris Rauf |
| Naseem Shah |
| Shaheen Afridi |
| Agha Salman |
| Usama Mir |
| Faheem Ashraf |
| Iftikhar Ahmed |
| Muhammad Haris |
Sri Lanka Squad:
| Player |
|---|
| Pathum Nissanka |
| Kusal Mendis (w) |
| Angelo Mathews |
| Charith Asalanka |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) |
| Nuwanidu Fernando |
| Chamika Karunaratne |
| Wanindu Hasaranga |
| Kasun Rajitha |
| Dhananjaya de Silva |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama |
| Pramod Madushan |
| Lahiru Kumara |
| Dunith Wellalage |
| Dilshan Madushanka |
| Sahan Arachchige |
| Matheesha Pathirana |
Bangladesh Squad:
| Player |
|---|
| Tamim Iqbal (c) |
| Litton Das |
| Shakib Al Hasan |
| Towhid Hridoy |
| Najmul Hossain Shanto |
| Yasir Ali |
| Taskin Ahmed |
| Ebadot Hossain |
| Mushfiqur Rahim (w) |
| Hasan Mahmud |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
| Nasum Ahmed |
| Mustafizur Rahman |
| Rony Talukdar |
Afghanistan Squad:
| Player |
|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w) |
| Ibrahim Zadran |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) |
| Najibullah Zadran |
| Rahmat Shah |
| Gulbadin Naib |
| Rashid Khan |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
| Mohammad Nabi |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi |
| Fareed Ahmad Malik |
| Shahidullah Kamal |
| Yamin Ahmadzai |
| Zia-ur-Rehman |
| Ikram Alikhil |
| Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Riaz Hassan |
| Noor Ahmad |
Nepal Squad:
| Player |
|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel |
| Bhim Sharki |
| Rohit Paudel (c) |
| Aasif Sheikh (w) |
| Aarif Sheikh |
| Dipendra Singh Airee |
| Kushal Malla |
| Sompal Kami |
| Karan KC |
| Lalit Rajbanshi |
| Sandeep Lamichhane |
| Gyanendra Malla |
| Pratis GC |
| Gulsan Jha |
Asia Cup 2023 Teams Analysis
Here is a quick analysis of the Top teams at the Asia Cup 2023:
India
- A Strong Team with 3rd Ranking in ICC ODI Rankings.
- Strong batting line-up with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
- Deep bench strength provides multiple playing combinations.
- Big Players’ injury is a big blow to their bowling.
Pakistan
- A powerful and Threatening Team with 1st Ranked Team in ICC ODI Ranking.
- Dangerous Top-order batting unit led by Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Imam ul Haq, who are top-ranked Batters in the ICC ODI Ranking.
- Have Some Amazing All-rounders like Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Iftikhar Ahmed.
- Middle-order batting remains a concern for the Pakitan Team’s Lineup.
- One of the Top Pace Attacks in the World Cricket including Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Hassan Ali, and Haris Rauf.
Sri Lanka
- They are the Defending Champions of Asia Cup 2022 which was played in T20I Format.
- Playing at home, very familiar conditions. Can be lethal in their conditions.
- Good mix of youth and experience especially in bowling.
- Inconsistent batting can be an issue for them.
- Dark horse contenders for the trophy.
Bangladesh
- A spirited team, which is capable of upsets.
- Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan provide experience.
- Lack of consistent performances
- Need to improve away record
Afghanistan
- Exciting talent especially in their spin bowlers
- Have the ability to trip bigger teams
- Over-reliance on spinners could be an issue
- Middle-order batting needs more stability
Asia Cup 2023 Points Table:
Ais Cup 2023 will start on 30th August 2023 and We will update the Points Table as the Tournament progresses.
Asia Cup 2023 – Group A Points Table
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| India | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nepal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Asia Cup 2023 – Group B Points Table
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bangladesh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Afghanistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The group stage points tables will be updated as the matches are played. The top 2 teams in each group will progress to the Super 4 stage based on points and NRR.
Asia Cup History
Asia Cup Winners (1984-2022)
| Year | Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| 2018 | India | Bangladesh |
| 2016 | India | Bangladesh |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| 2012 | Pakistan | Bangladesh |
| 2010 | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2008 | Sri Lanka | India |
| 2004 | Sri Lanka | India |
| 2000 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| 1997 | Sri Lanka | India |
| 1995 | India | Sri Lanka |
| 1990-91 | India | Sri Lanka |
| 1988 | India | Sri Lanka |
| 1986 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| 1984 | India | Sri Lanka |
The Asia Cup has been held 15 times since 1984. India and Sri Lanka have been the most successful teams, winning the title 6 times each. Pakistan has won it twice while Bangladesh is yet to win the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka are the defending champions having won the most recent edition of the Asia Cup in 2022. They defeated Pakistan in the 2022 final to clinch their 6th Asia Cup title overall.
Before that, India had won the 2018 Asia Cup by beating Bangladesh in the final to claim their 6th title. Pakistan won the Asia Cup in 2012 by beating Bangladesh in the final.
The 2023 Asia Cup winner is still to be determined. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are expected to be among the top contenders this time as well.
Asia Cup 2023 Full Schedule
Here is the complete match schedule and results for the Asia Cup 2023:
| Match | Teams | Date | Venue |
| 1 | Pakistan vs Nepal | Aug 30 | Multan, Pakistan |
| 2 | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Aug 31 | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| 3 | Pakistan vs India | Sept 2 | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| 4 | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | Sept 3 | Lahore, Pakistan |
| 5 | Nepal vs India | Sept 4 | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| 6 | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan | Sept 5 | Lahore, Pakistan |
| 7 | A1 vs B2 | Sept 6 | Lahore, Pakistan |
| 8 | B1 vs B2 | Sept 9 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 9 | A1 vs A2 | Sept 10 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 10 | A2 vs B1 | Sept 12 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 11 | A1 vs B1 | Sept 14 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 12 | A2 vs B2 | Sept 15 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 13 | Final | Sept 17 | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Where to Watch Asia Cup 2023?
Star India Network has bought the global media and broadcast rights for Asia Cup 2023.
Disney+ Hotstar will be streaming the Asia Cup matches after getting the online rights.
Fans in India can watch live telecasts of all Asia Cup 2023 matches on Disney+ Hotstar for free.
The Bottom Line
The Asia Cup promises to be an exciting cricket tournament showcasing the best of Asian teams. The group stage and Super 4 matches lead up to a mouthwatering finals clash.
Defending champions India will face tough competition from arch-rivals Pakistan and home team Sri Lanka. Emerging sides like Afghanistan and Nepal could also spring some surprises.
With elite players, high stakes, and thrilling cricket in store, the Asia Cup 2023 will be a tournament to watch out for!
FAQ’s
When will Asia Cup 2023 be held?
The Asia Cup 2023 will be held from August 30th to September 17, 2023. The tournament is scheduled to take place over three weeks in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup later in the year.
Which countries are hosting Asia Cup 2023?
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been announced as the co-hosts. Pakistan will host a few group stage matches while Sri Lanka will host the Super 4 games and the final.
How many teams are participating in Asia Cup 2023?
There will be 6 teams – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal. Nepal is making its debut after qualifying.
What is the schedule and venues for Asia Cup 2023?
The group stage in Pakistan, Super 4s, and the final in Sri Lanka. Venues are Multan, Lahore, Colombo, and Kandy. The full schedule is awaited.
Will Asia Cup 2023 be in T20 or ODI format?
This will be a 50-over ODI format tournament, providing good preparation for the ODI World Cup later.
Which teams are in Group A and B?
Group A: India, Pakistan, Nepal. Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan. The top 2 teams qualify.
When and where is India vs Pakistan?
September 2, 2023, in Kandy.
Who are the current defending champions of the Asia Cup?
Sri Lanka, having won the 2022 edition by defeating Pakistan in the Dubai final.
How can I watch Asia Cup 2023 live?
It will be telecast on Star Sports TV and live-streamed on Disney+ Hotstar in India.
What are the squads for Asia Cup 2023?
The final squads are awaited. They will be announced closer to the tournament.
Who are the captains of Asian Cricket Teams?
India – Rohit Sharma, Pakistan – Babar Azam, Sri Lanka – Dasun Shanaka, Bangladesh – Tamim Iqbal.
What is the prize money for Asia Cup 2023?
The winner gets USD 350,000. Runner up gets USD 175,000. Losing semi-finalists get USD 80,000 each.
How many times have India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup?
India and Sri Lanka have won 6 times each. Pakistan has won twice.
Who is the broadcast partner of Asia Cup 2023 in India?
Disney+ Hotstar will livestream the Asia Cup 2023 in India.
Where is the final of Asia Cup 2023?
The final will be at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on September 17, 2023.
What is the importance of Asia Cup 2023 World Cup preparation?
The ODI format provides good practice to teams ahead of the 50-over World Cup in 2023.