India Confirms Asia Cup Games to be Held in Sri Lanka, Citing Non-Travel to Pakistan

In a recent announcement, Arun Dhumal, Chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), confirmed that the highly anticipated Asia Cup matches between India and Pakistan will occur in Sri Lanka. The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. Dhumal disclosed that discussions took place between Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and Zaka Ashraf, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to finalize the tournament's schedule ahead of the upcoming ICC Board meeting.

According to Dhumal, the Asia Cup schedule was agreed upon and will proceed as planned. The league stage will feature four matches in Pakistan, followed by nine in Sri Lanka, including the highly anticipated encounters between India and Pakistan. A third game may also occur if both teams qualify for the final.

Dhumal dismissed reports circulating in the Pakistani media, stating that India would travel to Pakistan for the tournament. He clarified that no discussions were held on the matter, and neither the Indian team nor the BCCI Secretary would be making the journey to the neighboring country. Dhumal emphasized that only the schedule had been finalized.

The Indian cricket team is expected to face Pakistan in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, mirroring the arrangement made during the 2010 edition of the Asia Cup. Pakistan's only home match is against Nepal. The remaining three matches include Afghanistan versus Bangladesh, Bangladesh versus Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka versus Afghanistan.

Cricket enthusiasts from both nations eagerly await the intense encounters between India and Pakistan, known for their fierce rivalries and captivating performances on the field. The decision to relocate the matches to Sri Lanka ensures the tournament can proceed smoothly while accommodating the concerns and preferences of all participating teams.