Mumbai: India and Pakistan are scheduled to face off in the league stage of the ODI World Cup at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on October 15, subject to Shehbaz Sharif’s government clearing Babar Azam & Co’s trip across the border.
But before that, the traditional rivals will cross words for sure on neutral territory – almost certainly twice, and possibly even thrice — in the Asia Cup to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan from August 30 to September 17.
With India not travelling to Pakistan, the men in blue will be playing all their matches in Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan, who have been slotted in Group A along with minnows Nepal, will clash at Kandy on September 2.
Both teams are expected to qualify for the Super Four as the top 2 from Group A, which will pit them against each other for the second time – at Colombo on September 10.
And if India and Pakistan finish on top in Super Four standings, they will contest the grand finale at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on September 17.
Group B will see intense competition among Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. One of those teams will have to miss out on Super Four stage.
Check out the Asia Cup schedule: