Asia Cup cricket begins March 12

Hosts Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the opening match of the 11th Asia Cup scheduled to start at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from March 12, reports BSS. The four-nation meet with India and Sri Lanka as the other competitors ensures Bangladesh Cricket Board a purse of US $ two million as the hosts. It is the third time after 1988 and 2000 Bangladesh will host the top cricket competition of the sub-continent. In a press conference held at at a city hotel Monday President of Asian Cricket Council AHM Mustafa Kamal and CEO Syed Ashraful Huq provided all details to the newsmen. The total prize money of the tournament is US $ two million with the winners receiving US $ 60000.00 and the runners-up team getting US $ 30000.00. The winning team of the group phase will get richer by US $ 10000.00 as the winners purse. The man of the match of the group phase will get US $ 5000.00 as prize money while the man of the final will receive US $ 7500.00. Syed Ashrfaul Huq emphasised the importance of the meet. "It is the top money earning competition of the Asian Cricket Council and to be frank we face great difficulty to set the window amid the busy international schedule, however we are assured of the participation of the best available side of India and Pakistan " said ACC CEO. "All the matches will be played in the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium and all will be a day-night affair" added the ACC CEO. Ashraful, however, said that due to financial constraints the DRS will not be available in the meet and also explained that it is not mandatory. He also said all the expenses of the meet will be met by ACC and BCB has no expenditure.