Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram part of star-studded 2023 Asia Cup commentary panel

Ravi Shastri and Wasim Akram headline the star-studded commentary panel named for the 2023 Asia Cup, which gets underway on August 30. Shastri is one of the five Indian members on the panel; the others are Sanjay Manjrekar, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan and Deep Dasgupta, while Akram will be joined by his long-time ally Waqar Younis in addition to compatriots Ramiz Raja and Bazid Khan. 

Bangladesh’s Athar Ali Khan, Sri Lanka’s Russel Arnold and New Zealand’s Scott Styris complete the 12-member roster, which wears a familiar look as the previous iteration of the tournament, in 2022, with only Raja and Bazid being the new additions.

The 13-match tournament, a precursor to the impending ODI World Cup, will be played in a 50-over format, with six teams divided into two groups of three each: India, Pakistan and Nepal constitute Group A while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in Group B. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super4s, and the top two from that stage will contest in the final.

The tournament will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) approved PCB’s hybrid model following India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan – the original hosts – in the wake of the strained political ties between the two nations. As a result, Sri Lanka was finalised as the neutral venue for India’s games after a long-standing deadlock between the concerned stakeholders.

As it stands, Multan and Lahore will host the Pakistan leg of the tournament, with the former hosting the tournament opener between Pakistan and Nepal on August 30. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host two league games and a solitary Super4 clash on September 3, 5 and 6, respectively. The remaining nine games will be played in Sri Lanka, with Pallekele hosting three and Colombo six.

Asia Cup 2023 Commentary panel

Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Manjrekar, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Deep Dasgupta, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Ramiz Raja, Bazid Khan, Athar Ali Khan, Russel Arnold, Scott Styris

Asia Cup 2023 fixtures

August 30 - Pakistan vs Nepal, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan - 3:30 PM IST

August 31 - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele - 1:00 PM IST

September 2 - Pakistan vs India, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele - 1:00 PM IST

September 3 - Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore - 1:30 PM IST

September 4 - India vs Nepal, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele - 1:00 PM IST

September 5 - Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore - 3:30 PM IST

September 6 - A1 vs B2, Super Fours 1st Match, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore - 3:30 PM IST

September 9 - B1 vs B2, Super Fours 2nd Match, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo - 2:00 PM IST

September 10 - A1 vs A2, Super Fours 3rd Match, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo - 2:00 PM IST

September 12 - A2 vs B1, Super Fours 4th Match, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo - 2:00 PM IST

September 14 - A1 vs B1, Super Fours 5th Match, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo - 2:00 PM IST

September 15 - A2 vs B2, Super Fours 6th Match, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo - 2:00 PM IST

September 17 - TBC vs TBC, Asia Cup 2023 Final, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo 2:00 PM IST