Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan Set to Clash with Nepal in Cricket Showdown

Asia Cup 2023 is set to kick off with a highly anticipated match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan, Pakistan. The tournament, hosted in a hybrid model by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will take place from August 30 to September 17. This edition of the Asia Cup will revert to a 50-overs format after being organized as a T20 event last year.

Pakistan enters this opening fixture with a boost in confidence from a comprehensive series victory over Afghanistan held in Sri Lanka. Their 3-0 clean sweep against Afghanistan, making them the ODI World Number 1 side, ensures they approach this crucial tournament with a positive mindset.

On the other hand, this will be Nepal‘s first-ever appearance in the Asia Cup. They qualified for the 2023 edition of the tournament by winning the 2023 ACC Men’s Premier Cup held in May. In the final against the UAE, Nepal secured a convincing victory by 7 wickets.

The match between Pakistan and Nepal is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30, with a start time of 3:30 PM IST. This encounter marks the first meeting between the two countries in an international match.

Pakistan has announced their playing XI for the Asia Cup opener, with Babar Azam leading the team. The Pakistan XI includes Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Knowing that the track at Multan historically favors spinners, Pakistan has opted for a spin-trio of Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Salman Agha.

Nepal is yet to declare their playing XI and might do so during the toss itself. The Nepal Probable XI includes Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Bhim Sharki, Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Lalit Rajbanshi.

For fans wanting to watch the Pakistan vs. Nepal Asia Cup 2023 match on TV, it will be broadcasted on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, and Star Sports 1 Kannada channels in India. Moreover, the match will be live-streamed on Disney+ Hotstar, providing fans the opportunity to watch it for free on the Disney+ Hotstar Mobile app.

Both captains, Babar Azam and Rohit Paudel, expressed their excitement and pride ahead of the match. Babar Azam congratulated Nepal for their first-ever appearance in the Asia Cup and highlighted the positive impact it will have on the development of the sport in the country. Rohit Paudel took to Twitter to express his pride in leading Nepal into their first-ever Asia Cup and emphasized their determination to compete and deliver a competitive game against Pakistan and India.

This Asia Cup showdown between Pakistan and Nepal holds significance not only for the teams involved but also for the growth and recognition of cricket in Nepal. It provides Nepal with a platform to demonstrate their talent and potentially inspire a new generation of cricketers.

With the match just a day away, cricket enthusiasts will eagerly tune in to witness this historic match between Pakistan and Nepal. The clash between these two teams symbolizes the spirit of sportsmanship and the power of determination.