The schedule for 2018 Asia Cup had been released with Bangladesh set to play against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Asia Cup opener on September 15in the United Arab Emirates.The Cup reverts to its traditional 50-over ODI format this year after opting in 2016 for a Twenty20 competition, which India won.

Bangladesh’s will play their second match against Afghanistan in the group stage will be held on September 20.

The schedule of the biennial tournament was released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.Overall six teams are participating in the tournament and they have been divided into two groups. Bangladesh were placed in Group B alongside Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Group-A consists of defending champions India, Pakistan and the qualifier.

The top two teams from each group would proceed to a Super 4 round where Top 4 teams would play each other in round robin to decide the two finalists.The final will be held on 28 September in Dubai.

Bangladesh hosted the tournament when it was last played back in 2016 – a T20affair which took place ahead of the World T20 that year.

The qualifier tournament featuring Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Singapore and UAE will be held in India in September, with the winner joining the rest of the five teams in the main draw.

Full schedule:

Group Stage

September 15 - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (Dubai)

September 16 - Pakistan vs Qualifier (Dubai)

September 17 - Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

September 18 - India vs Qualifier (Dubai)

September 19 - India vs Pakistan (Dubai)

September 20 - Bangladesh vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Super Four

September 21 - Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Dubai)

September 22 - Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

September 23 - Group A Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

September 24 - Group B Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

September 25 - Group A Winner vs Group B Winner (Dubai)

September 26 - Group A Runner-up vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Final

September 28 - TBD vs TBD (Dubai)