Watch: Hosts Pakan leaves for Lahore a day after playing against India in Kandy | Cricket News
Pakan are the hosts of the ongoing 16th edition of the Asia Cup, but the hybrid schedule has forced them to travel almost ever second day.
Pakan played their opening match in Lahore against Nepal on August 30. The next day, the left for Sri Lanka because they were scheduled to play their arch-rivals India on September 2 in Kandy.
Overwhelmed the support of the fans in Kandy as the rain didn’t dampen their spirits 🙌🇵🇰#PAKvIND | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/8W256aFirL
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 2, 2023
Now the day after they played against India, the Babar Azam team has gone back to Lahore, where they will play one of their Super Four match on Wednesday. Their opposition are still not fixed. It could either Bangladesh or Afghanan.
If all goes according to the pre-event seeding, then Pakan and India will again lock horns September 10 at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS), Colombo, Sri Lanka. In that case Pakan, who will be playing their first Super Four match on September 6, they again have to tavel to Sri Lanka for the rest of the tournament.
This mess has happened because of the strained relationship between India and Pakan. Over the last decade the neighbouring countries has only played against each other in multi-team events at neutral venues.
Earlier, this year the Indian board had cited safety concerns and has ruled out travelling to Pakan for the Asia Cup, which prompted this unusual “hybrid model.”
Pakan won their first match against Nepal a thumping margin of 238 runs. Most Read
1
India vs Pakan Highlights, Asia Cup 2023: Match called off in Pallekele after rain plays spoilsport
2
Breaking: India’s World Cup team finalised, Sanju Samson misses out
See More
However, the marquee clash between India-Pakan encounter at the Asia Cup was abandoned when drizzle prevented play after the innings break on Saturday.
India was bowled out for 266 inside 50 overs after electing to bat first. Pakan couldn’t start its reply, ruining the first one-day international between them since the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England.
Points were shared and Pakan advanced to the second round having already beaten Nepal. India needs to beat Nepal in its final group game to go through.
