Curtain rises on Asia Cup carousal

All roads will lead to Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah in Narayanganj as curtain on the Asia Cup carousal will be raised there on Tuesday afternoon. Defending champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka will face off each other in the opening match starting at 2:00 pm after Asia’s premier cricket event will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The other countries contesting for the coveted Cup in the five-nation fray are Afghanistan, India and hosts Bangladesh. Among the participating nations Indians are the five times Asia Cup champions while Afghanistan are newcomers. The first five matches of the tourney will be held at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium while the other six matches including the final are scheduled to be held at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. All matches will begin at 2 pm. Last time’s runners-up Bangladesh will meet India on February 26, Afghanistan play Pakistan Feb 27, India face Sri Lanka on Feb 28 while Bangladesh will lock horn with Afghanistan on Mar 1, all at Fatullah. The Asia Cup match will go to home of Bangladesh cricket — Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur — through India-Pakistan crucial match billed for Mar 2, according to private TV channels.