Daily Times

LAHORE: India and Pakistan will face off in Dubai after drawing the same group for this year’s Asia Cup, the International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday. India suspended bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks but the two teams continue to play each other in international tournaments, including the Champions Trophy final in England last year. This year’s Asia Cup was originally set to be held in India but was shifted to the United Arab Emirates because of strained relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. The biennial tournament will begin September 15 in with Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh in the opener, the ICC said. The Asia Cup reverts to its traditional 50-over ODI format this year after opting in 2016 for a Twenty20 competition, which India won. The archrivals play each other on September 19 in Dubai, the first time they will face off in the UAE since 2006. It will also mark the first time Pakistan and India battle in Dubai; they have previously played 24 ODIs in Sharjah and two in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan have been dominant in the UAE, winning 19 of the contests.

Six teams will take part in the Asia Cup, with the group stage divided into two groups for the first time. Pakistan and India have been pooled with one other team to be determined by a qualifying tournament that takes place from August 29 to September 6. The qualifying tournament features six teams: Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman and UAE. The other group comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The six teams will then be cut down to four after the first round, with each of them playing the other in a round robin format. The top two will go through to the final, to be held on September 28. The Emirates Cricket Board will rent out the stadiums with India to serve as the “official” hosts. All matches will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with the latter to serve as the venue for the final.

Schedule:

Group Stage

15 September — Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (Dubai)

16 September — Pakistan vs Qualifier (Dubai)

17 September — Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

18 September — India vs Qualifier (Dubai)

19 September — India vs Pakistan (Dubai)

20 September — Bangladesh vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Super Four

21 September — Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Dubai)

21 September — Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

23 September — Group A Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

23 September — Group B Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

25 September — Group A Winner vs Group B Winner (Dubai)

26 September — Group A Runner-up vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Final

28 September — Asia Cup 2018 Final (Dubai).

Published in Daily Times, July 26^th 2018.