ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and India will face off in Dubai after drawing thesame group for this year´s Asia Cup, the International Cricket Councilannounced Tuesday.
India suspended bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbaiattacks but the two teams continue to play each other in internationaltournaments, including the Champions Trophy final in England last year.
This year´s Asia Cup was originally set to be held in India but was shiftedto the United Arab Emirates because of strained relations between New Delhiand Islamabad.
The biennial tournament will begin on September 15 with Sri Lanka taking onBangladesh in the opener, the ICC said.
The Cup reverts to its traditional 50-over ODI format this year afteropting in 2016 for a Twenty20 competition, which India won.Schedule:
Sept 15 – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16 – Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17 – Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18 – India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19 – India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20 – Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21 – Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21 – Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23 – Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23 – Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25 – Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26 – Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28 – Final (Dubai)