The Asia Cup 2023 is coming up, and cricket fans across Asia are getting ready for some exciting matches. This time, the tournament will have One Day Internationals (ODIs) and will be hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Six strong teams will compete to show who’s the best.
Set for August and September 2023, this Asia Cup is even more special because it’s the first time multiple countries are hosting it together. Pakistan will host four matches, and Sri Lanka will host nine matches, giving fans a lot to cheer for.
Asia Cup 2023
Defending champions, Sri Lanka, have a big challenge ahead as they try to keep their title against some tough competitors. But they’re not the only ones with a shot at glory. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal – the newcomers after their qualification at the 2023 ACC Men’s Premier Cup – are all aiming for victory.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asia Cup had to be delayed from 2021 to 2023. But the wait is almost over, and we can look forward to some amazing cricket moments. The schedule for the matches was revealed on July 19, 2023, promising exciting games, close finishes, and unforgettable memories.
In this post, we’ll dive into the experts’ analysis from GrabOn, make predictions, look at past winners, explore the history, check out the squads, and get all the details about the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. Let’s get started!
History of the Asia Cup
The Asia Cup started in 1984 and has become a major event in international cricket. The first tournament was hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and India emerged as the winners. Since then, the Asia Cup has become a big deal, capturing the hearts of fans across Asia and beyond. Over 15 editions, the Asia Cup has given us amazing matches and moments that we’ll never forget.
In 2022, the tournament happened in the UAE again. The final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Dubai was a nail-biter. Sri Lanka won by 23 runs and claimed the title. The Asia Cup keeps getting better, and we’ll take a look at the winners and hosts over the years.
The Most Successful Teams
Teams like India have dominated the Asia Cup, winning it seven times. They were champions in 1984, 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 2010, 2016, and 2018. Sri Lanka is close behind with six titles, while Pakistan won twice in 2000 and 2012.
Here’s a list of past winners:
1984: India
1986: Sri Lanka
1988: India
1990-91: India
1995: India
1997: Sri Lanka
2000: Pakistan
2004: Sri Lanka
2008: India
2010: India
2012: Pakistan
2014: Sri Lanka
2016: India
2018: India
2022: Sri Lanka
2023:
When it comes to hosting the Asia Cup, Bangladesh has done it five times. The UAE hosted it four times, most recently in 2022. India hosted it just once in 1990-91 when they won the tournament. Sri Lanka will be hosting for the fifth time in 2023, aiming to match Bangladesh’s record. Pakistan, on the other hand, will host for the second time. The history of hosting and victories makes the Asia Cup special and adds to its legacy.
Back To 50-over Cricket
The 2023 Asia Cup is going back to the classic 50-over One Day International (ODI) format. We last saw this in the 2018 Asia Cup when India won in a thrilling final against Bangladesh.
The return of the 50-over format is a big deal. It adds more excitement to the tournament as teams have to strategize and play over a longer game. The Asia Cup 2023 promises intense matches, smart plays, and unforgettable moments as the best Asian teams compete for victory.
A Closer Look at the Format, Teams, and Form Guide
The Asia Cup 2023 will showcase six strong teams: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. The tournament is set up in an exciting way. Teams will first play in groups, with two groups of three teams each. They’ll face each other in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will move on to the Super Fours stage, where they’ll play another round-robin. The top two from the Super Fours will fight it out in the final.
Group A has India, Nepal, and Pakistan battling it out, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. One of the most exciting matches will be between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on September 2. If they both make it to the Super Fours, they might meet again in a potentially thrilling final.
Now, let’s take a quick look at how these teams have been doing recently:
India: Ranked third in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, India is coming off a series win against West Indies and successful sweeps against Sri Lanka and New Zealand earlier this year. They’ve won 9 out of 12 matches this year.
Pakistan: At the top of the rankings, Pakistan has shown their strength with wins against New Zealand. After a series loss against New Zealand, they bounced back and won 5 out of 8 ODIs against them.
Sri Lanka: Hosts Sri Lanka are on a 10-match unbeaten streak and performed well in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier event. They’ve had mixed series against India and New Zealand this year.
Bangladesh: With wins against India and England, Bangladesh has proven their skill at home. However, a recent loss to Afghanistan raised questions about their consistency.
Afghanistan: Known for causing upsets, Afghanistan won a series against Bangladesh and even defeated Sri Lanka in the first match of a series. Despite fewer matches this year, they’re ready to make a mark.
Nepal: Nepal has been performing well in ODIs, winning 15 out of 20 matches. They’ve secured qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Asia Cup 2023 Schedule
The Asia Cup 2023 schedule is packed with exciting matches. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come:
- August 30: Pakistan vs Nepal, Multan – 3:30 PM IST
- August 31: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele – 1:00 PM IST
- September 2: Pakistan vs India, Pallekele – 1:00 PM IST
- September 3: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Lahore – 1:30 PM IST
- September 4: India vs Nepal, Pallekele – 1:00 PM IST
- September 5: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore – 3:30 PM IST
- September 6: A1 vs B2, Lahore – 3:30 PM IST
- September 9: B1 vs B2, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 10: A1 vs A2, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 12: A2 vs B1, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 14: A1 vs B1, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 15: A2 vs B2, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 17: TBC vs TBC, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
ASIA CUP 2023 SQUADS
- India Squad
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Players: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Travelling reserve: Sanju Samson
- Pakistan Squad
Captain: Babar Azam
Players: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel.
Travelling reserve: Tayyab Tahir
- Afghanistan Squad:
Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi
Players: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
- Bangladesh Squad:
Captain: Shakib Al Hasan
Players: Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
- Sri Lanka Squad:
Captain: Dunith Wellalage
Players: Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Minod Bhanuka, Avishka Fernando, Lasith Croospulle, Sahan Arachchige, Ashen Bandara, Lahiru Udara, Janith Liyanage, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Samarakoon, Isitha Wijesundera, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemantha.
Now, let’s talk predictions. Who’s going to lift the Asia Cup 2023 trophy? It’s shaping up to be a battle between India and Pakistan. Here’s our take on the situation:
India: They’re ranked third in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. Players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli lead their batting lineup. With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in their bowling, India has a well-rounded team.
They’ve won the Asia Cup seven times before, but missing the final last time was unexpected. This year, they’re stronger with the return of Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.
Pakistan: They’re at the top of the rankings and the reigning champion. Babar Azam leads their balanced team. Shaheen Afridi is a force in their bowling, and they have batting power with Babar Azam. Pakistan’s performance this year has been solid, with 19 wins out of 28 matches.
Sri Lanka: As defending champions, Sri Lanka faces a tough road in the 50-over format. Their batting has been inconsistent, and their chances of reaching the final seem less certain compared to last year.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh has a fifty-fifty chance. Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz add flexibility to their lineup. Their strategy of an extra batter has yielded both wins and losses.
Considering all this, India seems like a strong contender to win the Asia Cup 2023. Their recent form, victories against Australia, and history of performing well in Asia work in their favor. The resurgence of Virat Kohli adds to their strengths. However, Pakistan is also a serious contender. If India falters, Pakistan has a good chance of lifting the cup.
In the end, it’s all about the matches and the surprises they bring. Let’s gear up for an exciting Asia Cup 2023 and see who emerges as the champion!
For the Latest Sports News Follow us on Google News, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, or Instagram
