Asia Cup 2023: Head coach Rahul Dravid makes massive statement on India vs Pakistan clash

The much awaited schedule for the Asia Cup 2023 was finally announced on Wednesday. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will co-host the edition. 

The high-octane clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will take place in Kandy on September 2. Moreover, there is a possibility that the two sides may meet thrice over the course of 19 days in the 16th edition of the mega event.

Both the teams are drawn in the same group A. They will meet again in the upcoming tournament if they qualify in the Super Fours. The summit clash of the tournament will be played in Colombo on September 17.

The probability of the arch-rivals potentially meeting thrice within a month has created quite a buzz on social media. However, Team India head coach Raul Dravid stated that he wants to focus on the first two matches and not think too much about the possibilities.

“The schedule is out. You have to qualify for the Super Fours to play Pakistan three times. We have to take one step at a time. I don’t believe in counting my chickens too much,” said Dravid.

“I know we are going to play Pakistan and Nepal in the first two games. So we need to focus on that. We need to win those games and see where the tournament goes. If we get the opportunity to play them three times, it’s fantastic. That would mean we reach the final of the tournament and hopefully, Pakistan do too. It would be a great contest, and we certainly want to play right up to the final and win it. But we need to take the first two steps to do that,” the former India captain added.