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In an exciting development, Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to face each other in Sri Lanka as a crucial preparation ahead of the Men’s Asia Cup. The three-match ODI series, scheduled to begin on August 22, promises to be a thrilling contest between the two Asian cricketing giants.
The decision to hold the series in Sri Lanka comes as both Pakistan and Afghanistan gear up for the upcoming Asia Cup. With the tournament being jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the teams have chosen the Island Nation as the perfect neutral venue to fine-tune their skills and acclimatize to the subcontinental conditions.
Cricket fans can expect intense battles between Pakistan and Afghanistan as both teams aim to put their best foot forward and assess their strengths and weaknesses. The series will serve as an opportunity for players to gain valuable match practice and build momentum ahead of the highly anticipated Men’s Asia Cup.
The continental tournament will witness intense competition between some of the top cricketing nations in the Asian region. The contest will not only showcase the rivalry between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also feature enthralling encounters between other Asian powerhouses.
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As Pakistan and Afghanistan embark on their respective journeys to prepare for the Asia Cup, they will be keen to fine-tune their strategies and combinations, and the series in Sri Lanka presents the ideal platform to do so.
“These three matches will provide Babar Azam’s side an opportunity to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the 50-over ACC Men’s Asia Cup,” said the PCB in a statement.
Meanwhile, ACB Chairman Mr. Mirwais Ashraf has also expressed his confidence in Afghanistan’s team, believing that the boys will put on an impressive display during the series in preparation for the eagerly awaited Men’s Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
“Our previous ODI assignment was a 2-1 series victory in our away tour to Bangladesh, which has boosted the team’s morale for the Pakistan Series. We are satisfied with our preparations for the Asia Cup as we have featured in multiple ODI commitments in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh recently, and playing Pakistan, in Sri Lanka, will help our squad for read the conditions and further prepare for the event,” Mirwais said in a statement.
Fixtures of PAK vs AFG ODI series
- August 22 – 1st ODI, Hambantota
- August 24 – 2nd ODI, Hambantota
- August 26 – 3rd ODI, Colombo
