Six nations will participate in the Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka from July 15 to August 1, cricket officials said on Saturday.

Nepal and another country to be named later would join the four Test-playing nations of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the tournament.

"The decision was taken at a meeting of the executive board on Thursday," Asharful Haque, secretary of Asian Cricket Council told a news conference.

The meeting also decided to hold a 16-nation Asian Cricket Council Trophy from June 12 to June 22 in Kuala Lumpur, he said.

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran and Saudi Arabia would participate in the trophy for the first time.