Pakistan will play Lanka in inaugural Asia Cup encounter

Runners-up India will play its first match against Sri Lanka on July 18 in the Asia Cup cricket championship to be held on the island from July 14 to 26.

Champions Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the inaugural match on July 14. The championship will begin on July 13, but there will be no match that day. Bangladesh will also take part in the event.

India lost to Pakistan in the last Asia Cup final in Sharjah.

The tournament schedule:

July 13: Inauguration

July 14: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

July 16: Pakistan vs Bangladesh

July 18: India vs Sri Lanka

July 20: India vs Pakistan

July 22: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh

July 24: India vs Bangladesh

July 26: Final

July 27: Reserve day.

After the Asia Cup, India will stay on in Sri Lanka to play two Tests and three one day internationals. Sri Lanka will also visit India in November for a three-Test series. The islanders will also play a number of limited over matches during their tour of India.