Afghanistan will kickstart their 2023 Asia Cup campaign with a game against Bangladesh on September 3. For the first time since 2018, the continental event will be played in the ODI format. In 2016, the T20I format made its debut in the tournament. Ever since then, the competition has oscillated between ODI and T20I formats, acting as a precursor to any upcoming World Cup by adopting its format.

Pakistan, originally scheduled to be the organiser, teamed up with co-host Sri Lanka after India disagreed to send its squad to its western neighbour due to security issues. As a result, India’s matches would be played in Sri Lanka.

In an Asia Cup ODI in 2018, Dubai witnessed a Super Four thriller between Afghanistan and India that ended in a tie. Asghar Afghan’s men defended 253 in a dramatic match where the climax peaked in the penultimate ball. With a run needed for India’s win, Rashid Khan dismissed Ravindra Jadeja, their last wicket.

Asia Cup 2023: Teams, venues, and format

Six teams will lock horns against each other across 13 matches in the 2023 Asia Cup. The sides are drawn into Groups A and B. The top two teams from both groups will advance to the Super Fours, from where two teams will proceed to the final, scheduled on September 17.

Pakistan will host four games, while Sri Lanka is entrusted to organise nine games of the round-robin tournament.

Group A: Pakistan, India, Nepal
Group B: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka

Afghanistan Asia Cup 2023 schedule: Full fixtures list, venues, match timings

Slotted in Group B, Afghanistan will play their curtain-raiser match on September 3 against Bangladesh at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Their other group-stage match is on September 5 against Sri Lanka.

Here’s Afghanistan’s full fixtures list for Asia Cup 2023, if they qualify for the Super Fours:

Confirmed

September 3: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Lahore, Pakistan, 1:30 pm IST
September 5: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Lahore, Pakistan, 3:30 pm IST

Possible

September 6: A1 vs B2, Lahore, Pakistan, 3:30 pm IST.
September 9: B1 vs B2, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2:00 pm IST
September 12: A2 vs B1, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2:00 pm IST
September 14: A1 vs B1, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2:00 pm IST
September 15: A2 vs B2, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2:00 pm IST.
September 17: Final (Super Fours 1 vs Super Fours 2), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2:00 pm IST

If Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualify from Group B, they will play the Super Fours as B1 and B2, in that order. If Afghanistan qualify, they will replace Sri Lanka as B1, or Bangladesh as B2.