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Sri Lanka to host Asia Cup

Thursday, May 13 2004

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has made an agreement with Sri Lankan cricket officials to hold the Asia Cup in the country in July-August.

ACC officials Jagmohan Dalmiya and Ashraful Haq flew to Colombo today to meet with the Sri Lankan officials and finalize the offer.

The Sri Lankan cricket officials have assured that television rights, as well as sponsorships will be finalized within 10 days.

The Asia Cup, last played in 2000, was supposed to be na every-two-years affair. However, the stopage of bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan resulted in the event not being played for four years since the last edition.

Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates will take part in the tournament to be held from July 16 to August 2, and which involves 13 matches including nine day-and-night games.

Schedule:

Group A - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong
Group B - Sri Lanka, India, UAE

Phase I:
July 16 - Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong (SSC, Colombo), India vs. UAE (Dambulla)
July 17 - Pakistan vs. Bangladesh (SSC, Colombo), Sri Lanka vs. UAE (Dambulla)
July 18 - Pakistan vs. Hong Kong (SSC, Colombo), Sri Lanka vs. India (Dambulla)

Phase II:
July 21 - Group A 2nd vs. Group B 2nd (SSC, Colombo), Group A 1st v. Group B 1st (Premadasa, Colombo)
July 23 - Group A 2nd vs. Group B 1st (Premadasa, Colombo)
July 25 - Group A 1st vs. Group B 2nd (Premadasa, Colombo)
July 27 - Group B 1st vs. Group B 2nd (Premadasa, Colombo)
July 29 - Group A 1st vs. Group A 2nd (Premadasa, Colombo)

August 1 - Final (Premadasa, Colombo)
August 2 - Reserve day

Posted by Sudeep