home


Cricinfo 3D

Audio

Stats

Fantasy

Slogout

Video

Help and Feedback


 





Live Scorecards
Fixtures | Results
3D Animation






England v South Africa
Sri Lanka v India
County Cricket
ICC Intercontinental Cup

Current and Future Tours



News
Photos | Wallpapers




Cricinfo Magazine








Match/series archive
Records
Statsguru
Players/Officials
Grounds



Women's Cricket
ICC
Rankings/Ratings




Wisden Almanack



Games
Fantasy Cricket
Slogout



Daily Newsletter
Desktop Alerts
Toolbar
Widgets







Asia Cup 2008

India and Pakistan grouped together in Asia Cup

Cricinfo staff

March 20, 2008


Marvan Atapattu poses with the Asia Cup in 2004 © AFP
 

India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group for this year's Asia Cup, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have announced.

The tournament - the ninth to be held - will be staged in Pakistan in June and July, and all teams have confirmed their availability and satisfaction of touring the country, in spite of the recent violence. Two weeks ago Australia had decided to postpone their scheduled tour of Pakistan, to begin later this month, owing to security concerns.

"All the participating nations have confirmed their participation and we hope to have a safe and highly competitive Asia Cup in three months' time," Ashraful Huq, the ACC chief executive, told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. "Australians are unaware of our culture and they don't have an idea that no sporting activity has ever been hurt in Asia. All the teams are going to take part barring any major disaster."

The three sides in each group play each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the second phase, where they will again play each other once.

"Karachi will host ten of the thirteen matches, while Lahore will host three and since the event is played in the summer season all matches will be day-night, starting late in the afternoon," Huq said. "I have always felt that this was one of the most important tournaments," Arjuna Ranatanga, the ACC chairman, added. "I am delighted to see Pakistan hosting it and everyone has agreed to send their best teams for it.

"The PCB has been like an elder brother to Sri Lanka and always helped us out."

The first Asia Cup was held in 1984 in the UAE. India have won the event four times, while Sri Lanka have lifted the Cup three times and Pakistan once.

Group A: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates

Group B: Pakistan, India, Hong Kong

Add to del.icio.us | digg this | Stumble It What's this?

Live scores, results, news, features and more - a click away
Download the Cricinfo Toolbar
Current Cricinfo fantasy games - SL v Ind, Eng v SA & County Cricket
Login and check the standings
Live scores from across the world on your mobile phone
Cricinfo Mobile
Cricinfo home Print this page Email this page to a friend Feedback

 
Top 5 player searches
Most read stories