ISLAMABAD, JULY 20

Delayed by political tensions between cricket rivals Pakistan and India, the Asia Cup's long-awaited schedule was announced on Wednesday with Multan hosting the opening game between Pakistan and Nepal on Aug. 30.

The Asian Cricket Council accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board's hybrid model for the event after India refused to travel to Pakistan. Sri Lanka was chosen as joint host with Pakistan for the Aug. 30-Sept. 17 tournament.

After its opener at home in Multan, Pakistan will travel to Sri Lanka where it will take on India at Kandy on Sept. 2. If both countries qualify for the Super 4s, they will play in Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

The schedule of the tournament went through several changes and in the original draft Pakistan was scheduled to host four games in Lahore.

But after Zaka Ashraf replaced Najam Sethi as the new head of the PCB management committee, Multan was added into the plans by the PCB.

Sri Lanka will host nine matches.

Pakistan, India and Nepal are in Group A while Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Except for Nepal, the other five nations have qualified for the Cricket World Cup in India, starting in October.

The top two teams from both groups qualify for the Super 4s at the Asia Cup with the top two then qualifying for the Sept. 17 final at Colombo.