Likely to face each other three times during the tournament, an 8-team event in the UAE, to begin with a match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong
Azhar Chaudhry , Daily Dawn, Dawn TV Report
Dubai: The Asia Cup begins on Tuesday, September 9, with the biggest clash between India and Pakistan. The tournament will see the teams of the two countries face each other on the cricket field for the first time after a brief war in May.
The eight-team event is being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), during which Afghanistan will play weak rivals Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.
Similarly, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will clash in Dubai on September 14.
The two neighbours have not played a bilateral series on either side’s soil since 2012 and have only faced each other on neutral grounds in international tournaments, as part of a reconciliation agreement.
The two Asian cricket giants have been placed in the same group and are likely to face each other three times during the tournament, which ends on September 28.
The five full members of the Asian Cricket Council – Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – have automatically qualified.
They are joined by Hong Kong, Oman and the UAE, who secured their places by finishing in the top three in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup.
Group A includes India, Pakistan, the hosts UAE and Oman.
Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, with the group stage followed by a Super Four round and then the final in Dubai.
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