Afghanistan to Host Pakistan in Three-Match ODI Series Before Asia Cup 2023

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have announced that they will play a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan in Sri Lanka.

The series is scheduled to be played from August 22 to August 26, just ahead of the Asia Cup 2023, starting on August 30, and will serve as an ideal preparation for the marquee event.

The first two ODI matches are set to be played in Hambantota, while the final match will take place in Colombo before both teams head to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.

“These three matches [against Afghanistan] will provide Babar Azam’s side with an opportunity to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the 50-over ACC Men’s Asia Cup, which begins on Aug 30,” a PCB press release stated on Monday.

“The national side will assemble in Sri Lanka on Aug 17 August and will train on Aug 19, 20 and 21.”

ACB chairman Mirwas Ashraf expresses his delight in organizing this ODI series as part of their preparation for an action-packed season ahead:

“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 read the conditions and further prepare for the event.”

The head-to-head record between Pakistan and Afghanistan in ODIs stands at four matches, all won by Pakistan. The teams last met in the format during the previous ICC World Cup.