Pakistan and Sri Lanka to jointly host Asia Cup

Organisers announced on Thursday that Pakistan will jointly host this year's 50-over Asia Cup tournament with Sri Lanka.

Pakistan will stage four matches of the Asia Cup tournament, with the rest of the matches now taking place in Sri Lanka. The decision brings to an end a dispute between Pakistan and India that had seen tit-for-tat boycott threats.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had said they would boycott this year's ODI World Cup in India, which is due to start in October, if its Indian counterpart refused to play in Pakistan at the Asia Cup.

Neighbours India and Pakistan have not met on either side's soil in a bilateral series since 2012, and only play each other in international tournaments on neutral grounds.

On Thursday, the impasse was finally over as the Asian Cricket Council announced that the six-nation tournament will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka between August 31 and September 17.

“The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka,” the ACC said in a statement.

Najam Sethi, Chair of the PCB Management Committee, thanks the Asian Cricket Council for accepting his hybrid model for the ACC Asia Cup 2023, which is now scheduled from 31 August to 17 September.Read more ➡️ https://t.co/xNWnm2YJTX pic.twitter.com/hmxSTUHwqv

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India will be divided into two groups. The top two teams in each will progress to the Super Four stage and the top two from there will play the final.

“I am elated that our hybrid version for the Asia Cup has been accepted,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi said.

“Our passionate fans would have loved to see the India cricket