The Chief Secretary and Ministers of the caretaker Punjab government, on Friday, assured the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representatives of infallible arrangements for the upcoming Asia Cup matches in Lahore and Multan. PCB management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf along with PCB officials met the representatives of Punjab’s caretaker government including the adviser to caretaker CM Punjab, Wahab Riaz, at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.
During the meeting, both parties assured to provide the best facilities to the cricket fans during ACC Asia Cup matches to be held in Multan and Lahore. Punjab government as well as PCB expressed their commitment to provide the fans with the best yet smooth security arrangements so that they can enjoy the game at their best. The meeting took place in an excellent environment and both sides ensured to resolve all the past issues amicably. It was also decided that a new mechanism should be formed to make sure that future affairs must be conducted smoothly. 
Notably, during Najam Sethi’s tenure earlier in the year, a deadlock emerged between the PCB and the caretaker Punjab government over the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight’s Lahore and Rawalpindi leg security expenditures. 
The Punjab government demanded PCB pay off PKR 500m to make security arrangements for the second leg of the ongoing extravaganza. At the same time, the cricket board was adamant about not paying the stipulated sum. 
This year’s Asia Cup will kick off with host Pakistan taking on Nepal in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan. Pakistan will host a total of four matches including a Super 4s fixture. India’s group stage matches including the anticipated clash against Pakistan, scheduled on September 2, will be held in Kandy while the rest of the Super 4s matches, including the final will be played in Colombo. 
The arch-rivals Pakistan and India will come face to face again on September 10 in Colombo if both manage to qualify for the Super 4s. The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s. The continental event will run from August 31 to September 17. Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. 
The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 19 2023

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