The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will certainly be unique, being played in a hybrid model across Sri Lanka and Pakistan from August 30 to September 17. The original plan was to host the entire competition in Pakistan, but due to India’s reluctance to travel there, the venues were divided.
Group Division:
- Group A consists of India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
- Group B includes Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
The opening clash will be between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan, and following the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Fours. The final showdown will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Interestingly, while the 2022 edition of the Asia Cup was played in the T20 format, this year’s competition will revert to the ODI format.
Telecast and Streaming:
- Star Sports has secured the rights for the Asia Cup 2023 telecast in India. Therefore, all matches of the tournament will be broadcasted live on various Star Sports network channels including Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, and Star Sports 1 Kannada. All matches will start at 3 PM IST.
- For those who prefer online streaming, Disney + Hotstar will provide live streaming of Asia Cup 2023 matches in India. Interestingly, Disney + Hotstar has recently confirmed that the live stream of the Asia Cup, as well as the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, will be available on their mobile app for free, a departure from their previous subscription-based model.
Historical Context:
- India has been the most successful team in Asia Cup history, lifting the trophy seven times (six times in the ODI format and once in the T20I format).
- Sri Lanka has won the tournament six times.
- Pakistan has been crowned champions twice.
With such a rich history and the current form of the participating teams, the Asia Cup 2023 promises to be a thrilling contest. Stay tuned for some exhilarating cricket action!
