Summary Pakistan cricket team will start its Asia Cup campaign against India on Feb 27.
DHAKA (Dunya News/Web Desk) - The confident Bangladeshi players are all set to face well in-form India in Asia Cup opener today (Wednesday).
The match will start at 06:30 pm PST at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The tournament has been shortened to 20 overs for the first time.
Bangladesh is hosting the Asia Cup cricket for the third time, just before the ICC World T20 in neighboring India, despite recent security fears which prompted Australia to cancel a tour.
While featuring five Asian countries, the tournament will start from February 24 and will conclude on March 6, with the World T20 running from March to April.
The Pakistan cricket team will start its Asia Cup campaign against India in a high-voltage encounter on February 27.
Sri Lanka are the most consistent performers in the event, which has traditionally been played in the ODI format. The islanders have clinched the trophy five times, winning 34 of their 48 matches.
Along with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh in the main event, the upcoming edition will also have Afghanistan, Oman, Hong Kong and UAE playing a qualifying tournament from February 19.
Each team will play three matches and the top side will get entry into the main draw.
Bangladesh also hosted the tournament in 2012 and 2014, along with 2000 and 1988. Safety fears for foreigners have heightened in Muslim-majority Bangladesh after the recent murders of an Italian aid worker and a Japanese farmer which were claimed by the Islamic State group.
On the other hand, Asia Cup s Twenty20 debut might be marred by rain as Dhaka woke up to cloudy skies and sun playing hide and seek until Wednesday noon.
If that happens, there is a possibility of game getting delayed due to wet conditions. But the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium is prepared to face any such eventuality before or during the match.
Asia Cup Schedule:
Feb 24: India vs Bangladesh
Feb 25: Sri Lanka vs TBD
Feb 26: Bangladesh vs TBD
Feb 27: India vs Pakistan
Feb 28: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
Feb 29: Pakistan vs TBD
Mar 1: India vs Sri Lanka
