Pakistan To Play Three ODIs Against Afghanistan In Sri Lanka Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the team will play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka ahead of next month's Asia Cup.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are scheduled to play in Hambantota and Colombo starting from August 22 before the continental tournament.

"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.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said Afghanistan will perform well and put up a great display during the series in anticipation of the eagerly awaited Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup.

"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 on Monday.

Pakistan vs Afghanistan 3 ODIs schedule:

22 August - 1st ODI, Hambantota

24 August - 2nd ODI, Hambantota

26 August - 3rd ODI, Colombo.

Asia Cup 2023 will commence on August 30 with Pakistan taking on Nepal in the opening match in Multan followed by the clash against the arch-rivals India in Candy on September 2. On the other hand, Afghanistan will travel to Lahore to face Bangladesh in their opening match on September 3.

The final of the tournament will be played in Colombo on September 17.