Wickremaratne co-Tournament Director for Asia Cup 2023

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Vice President Ravin Wickremaratne will be one of two Tournament Directors named for the upcoming Asia Cup which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan being the host country will have Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer as their Tournament Director.

With India being reluctant to travel to Pakistan the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) under whose auspices the tournament is being held, agreed to a hybrid model where India would play all their matches in another country. This will be the first Asia Cup to be co-hosted by multiple countries.    

Wickramaratne will oversee the nine matches played in Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, while Naseer will look after the four matches Pakistan are due to host in Lahore. The final will take place in Colombo.

Wickramaratne, a former fast bowler who represented Panadura SC and SLC President’s XI sides has the experience of being Tournament Director of the Asia Cups hosted by Sri Lanka in 2004 and in 2022 (when the matches were played in the UAE). He was also Tournament Director of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in its first two years in 2020 and 2021.

The 16th edition of the Asia Cup will be held from 30 August to 17 September. The five full members of the ACC – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be joined by Nepal who will be making their Asia Cup debut. Sri Lanka are the current holders having won it last year in the UAE.