The Asia Cup cricket tournament has been mired in controversy well before its launch in Pakistan's Multan on 30 August 2023.
Originally the tournament was to be held in Pakistan. But after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) raised security concerns, a prolonged war of words broke out between the cricket administrative bodies of the two neighboring countries, forcing the competition to be shifted to a hybrid model.
As per the modalities figured out by the PCB and other member boards of the ACC, the event's chief organizers, Babar Azam and his boys were to play all their matches in their country except games against India.
Originally the tournament was to be held in Pakistan. But after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) raised security concerns, a prolonged war of words broke out between the cricket administrative bodies of the two neighboring countries, forcing the competition to be shifted to a hybrid model.
As per the modalities figured out by the PCB and other member boards of the ACC, the event's chief organizers, Babar Azam and his boys were to play all their matches in their country except games against India.
Furthermore, the Men in Blue will contest all their Asia Cup games in Sri Lanka. In fact, India will take on Pakistan in the tournament opener on September 2.
Besides, the semi-finals and the final will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo later this month.
Plus, with India taking on Pakistan almost a year after their epic clash in last year's T20 World Cup in Australia, there is an intense buzz about Saturday's contest between the two sides on social media.
While India has generally dominated Pakistan in Asia Cup fixtures, Pakistan defeated India in last year's Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan's team members attend a practice session ahead of their one day international cricket match of Asia Cup with India in Pallekele, Sri Lanka on Friday, Sep. 1, 2023.
© AP Photo / Eranga Jayawardena
How Many Asia Cups Have India, Pakistan Won?
However, India trumps Pakistan as far as overall title victories in the tournament are concerned.
Unlike Pakistanis who have lifted the Asia Cup trophy on only two occasions, the Indian cricket team has bagged the title seven times in the past. But India's latest crowning moment in the competition came five years ago when skipper Rohit Sharma led his troops to the title in the Middle East in 2018.
On the other hand, the Sri Lankans have clinched the Asia Cup title six times, thus making them the team with the second most titles in the event's history behind India.
Sri Lanka last won the competition in September 2022 after beating Pakistan by 23 runs in the final played in Dubai.