Asia Cup 2018 format revealed; could see India and Pakistan playing 3 ODIs

The Asia Cup 2018 will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

India last played Pakistan in CT 2017 final | AFP

The Asia Cup 2018 will be played in UAE this year with India hosting the tournament in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, after much deliberation in the recently concluded ACC meeting.

This means we could see arch-rivals India and Pakistan playing three ODIs in the tournament. The tournament format will see the six-team divided into two groups. The tournament will be played from September 18 to 30 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The six teams – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Qualifier – have been divided into two groups with India, Pakistan, and Qualifier forming Group A and the remaining three teams penciled in Group B.

The first match between India and Pakistan in the group stage will be played on September 21 and the second – provided the Qualifier does not throw an upset – in the Super 4 Round on September 27.

The format will see the qualifying stage, comprising of Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Singapore, and UAE, will start from September 13 whereas the tournament proper will commence from September 18 with Pakistan vs Qualifier in Dubai Sports City and Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 4 Round in which every team will play against the other three teams. The main tournament will see 13 games in 13 days across two venues.

India and Pakistan have not played each other in the Emirates for the last 12 years, with the last series coming in 2006.

Asia Cup 2018 Schedule

Group A:
India, Pakistan, Qualifier

Group B:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

Group Stage-
Sept 18: Pakistan vs Qualifier and Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
Sept 19: India vs Qualifier
Sept 20: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka
Sept 21: India vs Pakistan and Bangladesh vs Afghanistan

Super 4 Round-
Sept 23: 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B
Sept 24: 1st Group B vs 2nd Group A
Sept 25: 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group B
Sept 26: 1st Group A vs 1st Group B
Sept 27: 1st Group A vs 2nd Group A
Sept 28: 1st Group B vs 2nd Group B

Sept 30: Final

(With inputs from cricingif.com)

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 11 Apr, 2018

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