Asia Cup kicks off today -

The Asia Cup will roll on to the ground today (Wednesday) with the match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan.

Who will be the best Asian team in cricket, will be defined by this tournament. At the same time, the tournament is a preparation platform for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in India, report agencies.

Apart from Nepal, all of the five teams-- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan-- have the potential and skill to lift the trophy, making the tournament wide open for all.

The opening match of the Asia Cup 2023, will be played between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan on Wednesday.

This is the first time that the tournament is being co-hosted by multiple countries, with four matches taking place in Pakistan and the remaining nine in Sri Lanka.

Fiery rivals India and Pakistan could clash as many as three times if they go all the way in the six-nation continental championship.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are co-hosts, a hybrid model agreed after World Cup hosts India refused to tour Pakistan, with the final on September 17 in Colombo.

World Cup hosts India, led by Rohit Sharma, will open their campaign against Pakistan in a hotly anticipated clash on Saturday in Pallekele.

India and Pakistan, who only play against each other in international tournaments due to the countries' long-standing political tensions, are expected to meet again in the Super Four stage and could face off for a third time in the final.

"It's not just Pakistan, there are other teams," Rohit said of the hype surrounding the Pakistan clashes, with the rivals also scheduled to meet in the 50-over World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 14.

"Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup last year. So there are other teams who are playing good cricket and will challenge us."

Rohit said the Asia Cup was the perfect place to "test ourselves, try and put ourselves under pressure and respond to that pressure."

India's batting has been boosted by the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer alongside Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Rohit.

The 50-over World Cup begins on October 05 in India.

Sri Lanka, who won the Asia Cup last year in Dubai when it was played as a Twenty20 tournament, have been hit by injuries ahead of their opener against Bangladesh in Kandy on Thursday.

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera is all but out of the tournament with a shoulder injury and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is doubtful for at least the group matches having missed the Lanka Premier League final eight days ago with a thigh strain.

Bangladesh have had a difficult build-up with Tamim Iqbal stepping down as captain and missing the tournament with a back injury as he tries to get fit for the World Cup.

Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been reappointed captain through to the end of the World Cup. He previously led Bangladesh for 50 one-day internationals between 2009 and 2017.

Afghanistan, despite their recent loss to Pakistan, can pose problems with their potent spin attack of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.