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Asia Cup
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | |
| Administrator | Asian Cricket Council |
|---|---|
| Format | ODI and T20I |
| First edition | 1984 |
| Latest edition | 2025 |
| Next edition | 2027 |
| Tournament format | Group stage and knockouts |
| Current champion |  India (9th title) |
| Most successful | India (9 titles) |
| Most runs |  Sanath Jayasuriya (1220)[1] |
| Most wickets | Kuldeep Yadav (36)[2] |
| Website | asiancricket |
 2025 Asia Cup | |
| Tournaments |
|---|
| Part of a series on the |
| International cricket competitions |
|---|
 |
| ICC Competitions |
| Men's |
| Women's |
| Multi-sport competitions |
| Regional competitions |
| Note: Defunct competitions are listed in italics. |
The Men's Asia Cup is the biennial cricket tournament organised by the Asian Cricket Council. The competition is contested by Asian members' senior men's national cricket teams, determining the continental champion of Asia.[3] It was established in 1983 when the Asian Cricket Council was founded as a measure to promote goodwill between Asian countries, in cricket and the winning team becomes the champion of Asia. India boycotted the 1986 tournament due to strained cricketing relations with Sri Lanka. Pakistan boycotted the 1990–91 tournament due to strained political relations with India and the 1993 tournament was cancelled for the same reason. The ACC announced that the tournament would be held biennially from 2009 onwards. The ICC has ruled that all games played in the Asia Cup have official ODI status.
After downsizing the Asian Cricket Council in 2015, it was announced by the ICC that Asia Cup events from 2016 would be played on a rotation basis between One Day International and Twenty20 International format, on the basis of the format of upcoming world events. As a result, the 2016 event was the first event played in the T20I format and functioned as a preparatory tournament ahead of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.[4]
India, with nine titles (seven ODI and two T20I), is the most successful team in the tournament. Sri Lanka is the second most successful team with six titles (five ODI and one T20I), while Pakistan have won two. Sri Lanka has participated in the most Asia Cups (17), followed by India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (16 each).
History
[edit]| Season | Format | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | ODI | India
|
| 1986 | ODI | Sri Lanka
|
| 1988 | ODI | India (2)
|
| 1990/91 | ODI | India (3)
|
| 1995 | ODI | India (4)
|
| 1997 | ODI | Sri Lanka (2)
|
| 2000 | ODI |  Pakistan
|
| 2004 | ODI | Sri Lanka (3)
|
| 2008 | ODI | Sri Lanka (4)
|
| 2010 | ODI | India (5)
|
| 2012 | ODI | Pakistan (2)
|
| 2014 | ODI | Sri Lanka (5)
|
| 2016 | T20I | India (6)
|
| 2018 | ODI | India (7)
|
| 2022 | T20I | Sri Lanka (6)
|
| 2023 | ODI | India (8)
|
| 2025 | T20I | India (9)
|
1980s
[edit]The first edition of the Rothmans Asia Cup was held in 1984[5][6][7][8][9] in Sharjah, UAE, the location of the headquarters of the newly formed Asian Cricket Council. The tournament was a round-robin contest among India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The first match was between Pakistan and the new ICC member Sri Lanka. India won the tournament with two victories, Sri Lanka finished runners-up with a single win over Pakistan, while Pakistan failed to win either of its two games.[7][8][10]
Sri Lanka hosted the second edition in 1986. India withdrew from the tournament due to strained cricketing relations with Sri Lanka after a controversial series the previous year.[11] Bangladesh participated for the first time. Sri Lanka won the tournament by defeating Pakistan in the final.
The third edition, in 1988, was held in Bangladesh, marking the first time a multi-national cricket tournament was staged there. In the final, India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to claim their second Asia Cup.
1990s
[edit]The fourth edition of the tournament was held in India in 1990–91. Pakistan withdrew because of strained political relations with India. India retained the Asia Cup by defeating Sri Lanka in the final. In 1993, the tournament was cancelled due to continued political tensions between India and Pakistan.
The fifth edition, in 1995, returned to Sharjah, UAE after eleven years. India and Sri Lanka reached the final by virtue of a superior run rate over Pakistan, as all three teams finished the preliminary round with equal points. For the third successive time, India defeated Sri Lanka in the final.
The sixth edition was held in Sri Lanka in 1997, where the hosts beat India in the final by eight wickets to win their second Asia Cup.
2000s
[edit]The seventh edition of the Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh in 2000, marking the second time the country hosted the tournament. Pakistan and Sri Lanka reached the final, while India won only one match (against Bangladesh) and, for the first time, failed to qualify for the final. Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka to win their maiden Asia Cup title, with Yousuf Youhana named Player of the Tournament.
The 8th edition took place in Sri Lanka in 2004 with a new format. UAE and Hong Kong joined the competition for the first time, making it a six-team event divided into three stages – Group Stage, Super Fours, and the Final. Sri Lanka, India, and UAE were placed in Group A, while Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong were in Group B. UAE and Hong Kong were eliminated in the group stage. Bangladesh progressed to the Super Fours for the first time in a major tournament but failed to perform. India and Sri Lanka topped the Super Fours to reach the final, where Sri Lanka defeated India by 25 runs. Sanath Jayasuriya was awarded Player of the Tournament.
The 9th edition was hosted by Pakistan from 24 June to 6 July 2008, following the same format as 2004.[12] Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualified from Group A, while India and Pakistan advanced from Group B. In the Super Fours, India and Sri Lanka finished on top to enter the final. Sri Lanka won their fourth Asia Cup by defeating India by 100 runs. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 125 off 114 balls to rescue Sri Lanka from 66/4, while mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis produced a match-winning spell of 6/13. Mendis was named Player of the Tournament.
2010s
[edit]The tenth edition was held in Sri Lanka, between 15 and 24 June 2010 hosting the Asia Cup for the fourth time. It only featured the four Test playing Asian nations, and seven matches were played in all (including the final). Sri Lanka and India topped the group stages and entered the final. In the final, India beat Sri Lanka comfortably to become champions for the fifth time, winning the tournament for first time in 15 years.[13] Shahid Afridi was the Player of the Tournament.
The eleventh edition of the Asia Cup was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 11 to 22 March 2012. Pakistan and Bangladesh qualified to play in the final of the eleventh edition, Bangladesh had beaten India and Sri Lanka to book their place in the final for the first time in the history of the tournament. Pakistan beat Bangladesh after a thrilling final over, winning their second Asia Cup.[14] Shakib Al Hasan was adjudged the Player of the Tournament. Sachin Tendulkar scored his 100th international century in this tournament.
The twelfth edition was held in Dhaka and Fatullah, Bangladesh from 25 February to 8 March 2014. The tournament consisted of five teams with Afghanistan in it for the first time since its inception in 1984. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final to win the Asia Cup for the fifth time. Lahiru Thirimanne was adjudged the Player of the Tournament scoring 279 runs.
After the Asian Cricket Council was downsized by the ICC in 2015, it was announced that Asia Cup tournaments would be played on rotation basis in ODI and T20I format.[15][16] As a result, 2016 events was the first tournament in T20I format and was played by five teams just ahead of 2016 ICC World Twenty20. The 2016 edition of the Asia Cup tournament was held in Bangladesh for the third consecutive time from 24 February to 6 March. The final was held on 6 March 2016. India won the final by beating Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the final held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium situated in Mirpur locality, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is for the sixth time that India won the Asia cup title in 2016. Shikhar Dhawan of India was the man of the match for his 60 runs. Sabbir Rahman of Bangladesh was the player of the series. India won all of its matches played in Asia Cup 2016 beating Bangladesh 2 times, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and UAE.
On 29 October 2015, following the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Singapore, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur stated that the 2018 edition of the tournament would be held in India. It will follow the ODI format.[17] However, in April 2018, the tournament was moved to the United Arab Emirates, due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.[18]
India were the defending champions,[19] and retained their title, after beating Bangladesh by three wickets in the final.[20] India did not suffer a single defeat in the tournament, with 2 wins each against Pakistan & Bangladesh, a solitary win against Hong Kong, and a tie with Afghanistan. Shikhar Dhawan was the top run getter with 342 runs in 5 matches, was awarded Man of the Series. Afghanistan was the only team in the tournament who remained unbeaten against eventual winners India.
2020s
[edit]United Arab Emirates hosted the tournament and Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup beating Pakistan by 23 runs in the final. Sri Lanka reached the final as the only unbeaten team in the Super-Four stage winning against Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.[21] Bhanuka Rajapaksa was awarded Man of the Match for his unbeaten 71 off 45 balls, and Wanindu Hasaranga was second highest wicket-taker with 9 wickets in 6 matches, scored 66 runs in 5 innings and was named Player of the Series. Pakistan had an average start in the Asia Cup with a defeat against India in the group stage, beating India & Afghanistan in a close encounter in Super 4, ending with 2 back-to-back defeats against Sri Lanka. India started the tournament as hot favourites defeating Pakistan; however, they could not win against them and Sri Lanka in the super 4 and got knocked out of the tournament. Afghanistan was the only team in the tournament to defeat the eventual winners Sri Lanka.
Pakistan was awarded to host the tournament in 2023.[22] However, Indian cricket team was reluctant to visit Pakistan to participate in the tournament. So, after a lot of deliberation, India agreed to play in a hybrid model where India will play all their matches in another country and few other matches will be hosted in Pakistan. Thus, it was the first Asia Cup to be co-hosted by multiple countries; four matches were played in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches were played in Sri Lanka.[23] The five full members of the Asian Cricket Council were joined by Nepal, who made their ACC Asia Cup debut having qualified for the first time in qualifying the 2023 ACC Men's Premier Cup. India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan qualified to play in the tournament. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka qualified to play the Super fours stage. India and Pakistan played the finals, in which India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets to win their ninth Asia cup title.[24]
Revenue distribution
[edit]Around 80% of the tournament’s revenue is generated from matches featuring India and Pakistan.[25] To meet broadcasting demands, the two teams are often placed in the same group for commercial reasons.[26] The five Full Members each receive approximately 15% of total revenue, with the remaining amount distributed among Associate and Affiliate national boards.[25] The BCCI has publicly stated that it donates a portion of its share to smaller boards to support cricket development within and outside Asia.[27]
Results
[edit]| Year | Format | Host(s) | No. of teams | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Champions | Result | Runners-up | ||||
| 1984 Details |
ODI |  |
3 | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | India |
No finals; India won the tournament via Round-robin format | Sri Lanka
|
| 1986 Details |
ODI | |
3 | Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo | Sri Lanka 195/5 (42.2 overs) |
Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (scorecard) |
Pakistan 191/9 (45 overs) |
| 1988 Details |
ODI |  |
4 | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka | India 180/4 (37.1 overs) |
India won by 6 wickets (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 176 (43.5 overs) |
| 1990/91 Details |
ODI | |
3 | Eden Gardens, Calcutta | India 205/3 (42.1 overs) |
India won by 7 wickets (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 204/9 (45 overs) |
| 1995 Details |
ODI | |
4 | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | India 233/2 (41.5 overs) |
India won by 8 wickets (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 230/7 (50 overs) |
| 1997 Details |
ODI | |
4 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Sri Lanka 240/2 (36.5 overs) |
Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (scorecard) |
India 239/7 (50 overs) |
| 2000 Details |
ODI | |
4 | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka | Pakistan 277/4 (50 overs) |
Pakistan won by 39 runs (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 238 (45.2 overs) |
| 2004 Details |
ODI | |
6 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Sri Lanka 228/9 (50 overs) |
Sri Lanka won by 25 runs (scorecard) |
India 203/9 (50 overs) |
| 2008 Details |
ODI | |
6 | National Stadium, Karachi | Sri Lanka 273 (49.5 overs) |
Sri Lanka won by 100 runs (scorecard) |
India 173 (39.3 overs) |
| 2010 Details |
ODI | |
4 | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla | India 268/6 (50 overs) |
India won by 81 runs (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 187 (44.4 overs) |
| 2012 Details |
ODI | |
4 | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur | Pakistan 236/9 (50 overs) |
Pakistan won by 2 runs (scorecard) |
Bangladesh 234/8 (50 overs) |
| 2014 Details |
ODI | |
5 | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur | Sri Lanka 261/5 (46.2 overs) |
Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (scorecard) |
Pakistan 260/5 (50 overs) |
| 2016 Details |
T20I | |
5 | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur | India 122/2 (13.5 overs) |
India won by 8 wickets (scorecard) |
Bangladesh 120/5 (15 overs) |
| 2018 Details |
ODI | |
6 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | India 223/7 (50 overs) |
India won by 3 wickets (scorecard) |
Bangladesh 222 (48.3 overs) |
| 2022 Details |
T20I |
|
6 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | Sri Lanka 170/6 (20 overs) |
Sri Lanka won by 23 runs (scorecard) |
Pakistan 147 (20 overs) |
| 2023 Details |
ODI |
|
6 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | India 51/0 (6.1 overs) |
India won by 10 wickets (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 50 (15.2 overs) |
| 2025 Details |
T20I |
|
8 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | India 150/5 (19.4 overs) |
India won by 5 wickets (scorecard) |
Pakistan 146 (19.1 overs) |
| 2027 Details |
ODI |
|
8 | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur | |||
Tournament summary
[edit]Overall
[edit]The table below provides an overview of the performances of teams over past Asia Cup ODI and T20I tournaments.[28][29]
| Team | Appearances | Best result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | First | Latest | ||
| India
|
16 | 1984 | 2025 | Champions (1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2025) |
| Sri Lanka
|
17 | 1984 | 2025 | Champions (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022) |
| Pakistan
|
16 | 1984 | 2025 | Champions (2000, 2012) |
| Bangladesh
|
16 | 1986 | 2025 | Runners-up (2012, 2016, 2018) |
 Afghanistan
|
5 | 2014 | 2025 | Super Four (2018, 2022) |
 Hong Kong
|
5 | 2004 | 2025 | Group Stage (2004, 2008, 2018, 2022, 2025) |
| United Arab Emirates
|
4 | 2004 | 2025 | Group Stage (2004, 2008, 2016, 2025) |
 Nepal
|
1 | 2023 | Group Stage (2023) | |
 Oman
|
1 | 2025 | Group Stage (2025) | |
ODIs
[edit]The table below provides an overview of the performances of teams over past Asia Cup ODI tournaments.[30]
| Team | Appearances | Best result | Statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | First | Latest | Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Win% | ||
| India
|
13 | 1984 | 2023 | Champions (1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2018, 2023) | 55 | 35 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 66.98 |
| Sri Lanka
|
14 | 1984 | 2023 | Champions (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014) | 55 | 38 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 67.85 |
| Pakistan
|
13 | 1984 | 2023 | Champions (2000, 2012) | 50 | 28 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 58.33 |
| Bangladesh
|
13 | 1986 | 2023 | Runners-up (2012, 2018) | 48 | 9 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 18.75 |
| Afghanistan
|
3 | 2014 | 2023 | Super Four (2018) | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 31.81 |
| Hong Kong
|
3 | 2004 | 2018 | Group Stage (2004, 2008, 2018) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Nepal
|
1 | 2023 | 2023 | Group Stage (2023) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| United Arab Emirates
|
2 | 2004 | 2008 | Group Stage (2004, 2008) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
T20Is
[edit]The table below provides an overview of the performances of teams in the Asia Cup T20I tournament.[3]
| Team | Appearances | Best result | Statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | First | Latest | Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Win% | ||
| India
|
3 | 2016 | 2025 | Champions (2016, 2025) | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 88.23 |
| Sri Lanka
|
3 | 2016 | 2025 | Champions (2022) | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25 |
| Pakistan
|
3 | 2016 | 2025 | Runners-up (2022, 2025) | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25 |
| Bangladesh
|
3 | 2016 | 2025 | Runners-up (2016) | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 46.15 |
| Afghanistan
|
2 | 2022 | 2025 | Super Four (2022) | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 |
| United Arab Emirates
|
2 | 2016 | 2025 | Group Stage (2016, 2025) | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14.29 |
| Hong Kong
|
2 | 2022 | 2025 | Group Stage (2022, 2025) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 00.00 |
| Oman
|
1 | 2025 | Group Stage (2025) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 00.00 | |
Note:
- The win percentage excludes no-result matches and counts ties as half a win.
- Teams are sorted by best result, then winning percentage, then (if equal) by alphabetical order.
Performance by teams
[edit]1st
|
Champion |
2nd
|
Runners-up |
3rd
|
2nd Runners-up |
DNQ
|
Did not qualify |
Q
|
Qualified |
WD
|
Withdrawn |
GS
|
Group stage |
| ICC Full Member Nation |
An overview of the teams' performances in every Asia Cup:
India has most titles i.e. 9, while Sri Lanka has second highest 6.
Host Team
|
1984 ODI |
1986 ODI |
1988 ODI |
1990/91 ODI |
1995 ODI |
1997 ODI |
2000 ODI |
2004 ODI |
2008 ODI |
2010 ODI |
2012 ODI |
2014 ODI |
2016 T20I |
2018 ODI |
2022 T20I |
2023 ODI |
2025 T20I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Afghanistan
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
— | — | 4th | DNQ |
4th | 4th | GS | GS |
 Bahrain
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
— | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ
|
| Bangladesh |
— | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 5th | 2nd | 2nd | GS | 3rd | 3rd |
 Cambodia
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ
|
| Hong Kong |
— | DNQ |
— | — | — | — | — | GS | GS | — | — | — | DNQ |
GS | GS | DNQ |
GS |
| India |
1st | WD |
1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st |
 Kuwait |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ
|
 Malaysia |
— | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ |
— | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ
|
| Nepal |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
— | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
GS | DNQ
|
| Oman |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
— | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ |
GS |
| Pakistan |
3rd | 2nd | 3rd | WD |
3rd | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd |
4th | 2nd |
 Qatar |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
— | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ
|
 Saudi Arabia
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
— | — | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ
|
 Singapore |
— | DNQ |
— | — | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
— | — | — | — | DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ
|
| Sri Lanka |
2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 4th | 1st | 4th | GS | 1st |
2nd | 4th |
| United Arab Emirates |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | GS | GS | — | — | — | 5th | DNQ |
DNQ |
DNQ |
GS |
Debutant teams in final tournament
[edit]| Year | Teams |
|---|---|
| 1984 | India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
|
| 1986 | Bangladesh
|
| 2004 | Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates
|
| 2014 | Afghanistan
|
| 2023 | Nepal
|
| 2025 | Oman
|
Debutant teams in Asia Cup Qualifier
[edit]| Year | Teams |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Singapore, United Arab Emirates
|
| 2006 | Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Iran, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand
|
| 2016 | None |
| 2018 | None |
| 2022 | Kuwait
|
| 2023 | None |
| 2024 | Cambodia
|
Championship summary
[edit]| Rank | Teams | Appearance | Titles | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India
|
16 | 9 | 3 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka
|
17 | 6 | 7 |
| 3 | Pakistan
|
16 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Bangladesh
|
16 | 0 | 3 |
Ranking
[edit]Results
[edit]| # | Year | Host | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1984 | UAE
|
IND
|
SRI
|
PAK
|
3 | |||||
| 2 | 1986 | SRI
|
SRI
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
||||||
| 3 | 1988 | BAN
|
IND
|
SRI
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
4 | ||||
| 4 | 1990 | IND
|
IND
|
SRI
|
BAN
|
3 | |||||
| 5 | 1995 | UAE
|
IND
|
SRI
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
4 | ||||
| 6 | 1997 | SRI
|
SRI
|
IND
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
|||||
| 7 | 2000 | BAN
|
PAK
|
SRI
|
IND
|
BAN
|
|||||
| 8 | 2004 | SRI
|
SRI
|
IND
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
UAE
|
HKG
|
6 | ||
| 9 | 2008 | PAK
|
SRI
|
IND
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
UAE
|
HKG
|
|||
| 10 | 2010 | SRI
|
IND
|
SRI
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
4 | ||||
| 11 | 2012 | BAN
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
IND
|
SRI
|
|||||
| 12 | 2014 | BAN
|
SRI
|
PAK
|
IND
|
AFG
|
BAN
|
5 | |||
| 13 | 2016 | BAN
|
IND
|
BAN
|
PAK
|
SRI
|
UAE
|
||||
| 14 | 2018 | UAE
|
IND
|
BAN
|
PAK
|
AFG
|
HKG
|
SRI
|
6 | ||
| 15 | 2022 | UAE
|
SRI
|
PAK
|
IND
|
AFG
|
BAN
|
HKG
|
|||
| 16 | 2023 | PAK SRI
|
IND
|
SRI
|
BAN
|
PAK
|
AFG
|
NEP
|
|||
| 17 | 2025 | UAE
|
IND
|
PAK
|
BAN
|
SRI
|
AFG
|
UAE
|
HKG
|
OMA
|
8 |
Medals
[edit]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India (IND) | 9 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka (SRI) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| 3 | Pakistan (PAK) | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 |
| 4 | Bangladesh (BAN) | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Totals (4 entries) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 51 | |
Summary
[edit]| Rank[31][32][33] | Team | Part | M | W | L | T | NR | W/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India
|
16 | 72 | 50 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 2.631 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka
|
17 | 71 | 47 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 1.958 |
| 3 | Pakistan |
16 | 66 | 37 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 1.370 |
| 4 | Bangladesh |
16 | 61 | 15 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0.326 |
| 5 | Afghanistan |
5 | 22 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0.615 |
| 6 | Nepal |
1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates |
4 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.400 |
| 8 | Hong Kong |
6 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 9 | Oman |
2 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 |
Qualification
[edit]| Year | Qualification tournament | Number of teams in qualification | Number of qualified teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | No qualification | ||
| 1986 | |||
| 1988–2000 | |||
| 2004 Asia Cup | 2000 ACC Trophy | 8 | 2 |
| 2008 Asia Cup | 2006 ACC Trophy | ||
| 2010–2014 | No qualification | ||
| 2016 Asia Cup | 2016 Asia Cup Qualifier | 4 | 1 |
| 2018 Asia Cup | 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier | 6 | |
| 2022 Asia Cup | 2022 Asia Cup Qualifier | 13 | |
| 2023 Asia Cup | 2023 ACC Men's Premier Cup | 14 | |
| 2025 Asia Cup | 2024 ACC Men's Premier Cup | 18 | 3 |
Records and statistics
[edit]Broadcasters
[edit]| Country or territory | Broadcasters | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | GTV, T Sports HD, Rabbithole Prime, Toffee (Offline), T sports app, Nagorik tv, | 2022–27 |
| Caribbean | RUSH Sports | 2023 |
| India and Nepal | Sony Sports Network | 2024–31 |
| Sri Lanka | TV 1 (MTV Channel) | 2025–27[34] |
| Pakistan | PTV, Ten Sports | 2022–23 |
| Australia | Kayo Sports | 2022 |
| Middle East and North Africa | Tv by e& and STARZON | 2022–23 |
| Malaysia | Astro Cricket | 2022–23 |
| Singapore | HUB Sports | 2022–23 |
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports | 2022–23 |
| Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Southeast Asia | YuppTV | 2016–23 |
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Most runs in combined format". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "Most wickets in combined format". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ a b "Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
- ^ "Asia Cup format change confirmed by ICC". International Cricket Council. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ "1st Match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Apr 6, 1984 – Cricket Scorecard – ESPN Cricinfo". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "Cricket Records – Records – Sri Lanka – One-Day Internationals – (by year) – ESPN Cricinfo". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ a b "Cricket Records – Records – 1984 – Sri Lanka – One-Day Internationals – Match results – ESPN Cricinfo". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ a b "Cricket Records – Records – 1984 – Pakistan – One-Day Internationals – Match results – ESPN Cricinfo". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "Asia Cup 1984: The beginning of continental cricket". BBC Sport. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ Gupta, R. (2022). "Regional Cricketing Diplomacy: The Asia Cup's Political Significance". Asian Affairs. 55 (3). Taylor & Francis: 412–425. doi:10.1080/03068374.2022.1987654 (inactive 24 September 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2025 (link) - ^ "Asia Cup Winners and Runners List (1984 – Present)". CricTracker.
- ^ "Pakistan to host ninth Asia Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 October 2005.
- ^ "India defeat Sri Lanka to win Asia Cup". Sahara Samay. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ "Asia Cup: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in thrilling final". BBC Sport. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ "Asia Cup to continue under ICC". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ "Asia Cup to switch T20 format every alternate edition". cricbuzz. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh, 2018 in India: Thakur". The Times of India. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ "2018 Asia Cup moved from India to UAE". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "India to host Asia Cup 2018 in UAE". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "India creep home in final-over thriller to defend Asia Cup title". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "New hosts confirmed for Asia Cup 2022". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ "Asia Cup 2023 will be played in Pakistan, confirms PCB chief Ramiz Raja".
- ^ "Four Asia Cup matches in Pakistan; remaining nine in Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ "Winners India refuse Asia Cup trophy from ACC chief". Reuters. 28 September 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ a b "ACC increases Afghanistan's share in revised financial distribution". ESPNcricinfo. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "India v Pakistan: Why broadcasters and sponsors seek frequent matchups". BBC Sport. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "BCCI financial support helps Asian associates grow". The Hindu. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Asia Cup: History, winners and records". BBC Sport. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ Khan, Shahid (2024). "Continental cricket competitions: governance and economics of the Asia Cup". International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics. 15 (2): 210–225. doi:10.1080/19406940.2024.XXXXXX.
- ^ "Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ^ https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/trophy/team-results-summary/men-s-t20-asia-cup-951
- ^ https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/trophy/team-results-summary/asia-cup-odi-14
- ^ "Team records | Combined Test, ODI and T20I records | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Sri Lanka's Sirasa TV Network secures Asia Cup cricket rights deal (2025–2027)". NewsFirst. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
Asia Cup
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Overview
Origins and Purpose
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), initially established as the Asian Cricket Conference on 19 September 1983 in New Delhi, was created to organize, develop, and promote cricket throughout Asia, with founding members including boards from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.[5] [6] The ACC's formation addressed the need for regional coordination amid cricket's expansion beyond traditional Commonwealth nations, aiming to strengthen governance and infrastructure among Asian boards.[5] In 1984, the ACC inaugurated the Asia Cup as its flagship event, marking the first international multi-nation cricket tournament restricted to Asian teams and involving only India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka as participants. [7] The tournament debuted from 6 to 13 April in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, selected as a neutral venue to facilitate participation amid geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan that complicated hosting in either country.[8] This setup allowed the event to proceed without bilateral restrictions, enabling direct competition among the three established Asian Test-playing nations. The primary purpose of the Asia Cup was to elevate cricket's profile and competitiveness within Asia by providing structured multilateral exposure, distinct from ad-hoc bilateral series, and to support the sport's grassroots development in emerging markets.[5] [7] By centralizing regional efforts under the ACC, the tournament aimed to build administrative ties, share resources, and cultivate talent pipelines that could challenge the global dominance of established powers like England and Australia through consistent high-stakes play.[8] This initiative reflected a strategic vision to assert Asian cricket's autonomy and foster self-reliance in tournament organization and revenue generation.[8]Current Format and Scheduling
The Asia Cup operates on a biennial cycle established since its inception in 1984, with formats alternating between One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) editions since 2016 to align with the International Cricket Council's (ICC) World Cup schedules in each white-ball variant.[9] ODI tournaments, such as the 2023 edition, precede the ODI World Cup, while T20I events like the 2025 Asia Cup prepare teams for the T20 World Cup, fostering format-specific match practice among Asian nations.[10] This rotational approach, decided by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), optimizes regional competition timing within the global calendar while maximizing participation from full-member teams.[11] The 2025 T20I edition occurred from September 9 to 28 across venues in the United Arab Emirates—Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Cricket Stadium—selected as a neutral site amid ongoing regional tensions that preclude bilateral tours between certain full members, notably India and Pakistan.[12] Such neutral hosting ensures the inclusion of marquee fixtures, including India-Pakistan encounters, which historically generate peak viewership and revenue for broadcasters and sponsors due to their intense rivalry and fan engagement.[13] ACC scheduling decisions prioritize these dynamics alongside ICC commitments, avoiding overlaps with domestic leagues like the Indian Premier League.[14] The standard structure involves eight teams: five full ICC members (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan) qualifying directly, plus three associates via prior ACC qualifiers.[12] These are split into two groups of four for the initial stage, where each team plays three matches; the top two from each group advance to the Super Four phase, featuring round-robin games among the four qualifiers, followed by a final between the top two performers.[15] This hybrid model balances inclusivity for emerging sides with high-stakes elimination for powerhouses, typically spanning 15 to 19 matches over 2-3 weeks.[16]History
Inception and Early Tournaments (1980s)
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), formed on September 19, 1983, in New Delhi by cricket boards from India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, initiated the Asia Cup to promote the sport across the continent and build infrastructure beyond bilateral matches.[5][6] The inaugural Rothmans Asia Cup took place from April 6 to 13, 1984, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, selected as a neutral venue to circumvent political tensions between India and Pakistan that barred them from hosting each other.[8] Only three teams participated—India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—in a round-robin format followed by a final between the top two, reflecting the limited spread of international cricket in Asia at the time, with no other full members beyond these nations.[7] India, captained by Sunil Gavaskar, won the tournament unbeaten, defeating Pakistan in the final by 54 runs after posting 237/8, with Pakistan managing 183 all out; this victory marked India's first major limited-overs title post their 1983 World Cup success and highlighted the event's role in showcasing regional rivalries on neutral ground.[2][17] Sri Lanka finished second after beating Pakistan earlier, while Pakistan lost both matches, underscoring the competitive edge held by India and the hosts' emerging strength.[18] The 1986 edition, hosted by Sri Lanka from March 30 to April 6 across Colombo and Kandy, expanded participation to include Bangladesh but saw India's absence due to government advisories on security risks from the island's ongoing ethnic civil unrest between Sinhalese and Tamils, prioritizing player safety over defense of their title.[19][20] With three teams in a similar round-robin setup, Sri Lanka defended the regional honor at home, defeating Pakistan in the final by 5 wickets while chasing 192, with key contributions from Asanka Gurusinha; this win boosted Sri Lanka's infrastructure development and international profile amid limited Asian depth.[21][22] By the third tournament in 1988, held in Bangladesh from October 26 to November 4 at Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium and other venues, participation grew to four teams—India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and hosts Bangladesh—signaling gradual regional inclusion, though still focused on core South Asian sides.[23] India reclaimed the title, beating Sri Lanka in the final by 6 wickets after restricting them to a chaseable total, reinforcing the tournament's precedent for neutral or host venues to navigate geopolitical frictions while fostering cricket's growth in emerging nations like Bangladesh.[23][24] These early editions established the Asia Cup's ODI format and its utility in promoting goodwill and infrastructure amid bilateral constraints, with low team numbers evidencing the era's nascent Asian cricket ecosystem.[8]Expansion and Regional Rivalries (1990s)
The 1990–91 Asia Cup marked the debut of Bangladesh, expanding participation beyond the original core teams of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, with the tournament held across Indian venues from December 25, 1990, to January 4, 1991.[25] Pakistan boycotted the event amid heightened political tensions with India, particularly over border disputes, allowing a round-robin format among the three participating sides.[7] India secured the title by defeating Sri Lanka in the final at Eden Gardens on January 4, 1991, chasing 204/9 with seven wickets and 17 balls to spare, driven by Navjot Sidhu's unbeaten century.[25] The 1995 edition, hosted neutrally in Sharjah, UAE, from April 4 to 11, reinstated full regional participation including Pakistan and Bangladesh, intensifying rivalries through high-stakes encounters. Pakistan clinched their second Asia Cup title, defeating India by 97 runs in a league match on April 7 where they posted 266/9 before restricting India to 169.[26] Such outcomes underscored the competitive balance in India-Pakistan clashes, where national pride amplified intensity, as evidenced by the bilateral record of closely contested ODIs during the era, with Pakistan holding a slight edge in Asia Cup meetings but India prevailing in subsequent finals against other rivals. Sri Lanka hosted the 1997 tournament from July 14 to 26, maintaining the ODI format and four-team structure with Bangladesh continuing as a participant despite limited success. The hosts triumphed in the final against India on July 26 at Colombo, chasing 240 with eight wickets in hand after India scored 239/7, propelled by Sanath Jayasuriya's aggressive opening.[27] These editions highlighted escalating regional rivalries, fueled by geopolitical undercurrents and cultural significance, where matches between India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka often drew massive viewership and exemplified tactical depth, such as spin-dominant strategies in subcontinental conditions.Inclusion of New Teams and Format Experiments (2000s)
The 2004 Asia Cup, hosted by Sri Lanka from July 16 to 28, expanded participation to six teams for the first time by including associate nations United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong alongside full members India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.[28] This shift from the prior 3-4 team fields aimed to foster broader regional development but introduced structural experiments, featuring a preliminary stage with all teams in a round-robin or grouped format to eliminate the two weakest, followed by a Super Four phase among qualifiers and a final.[29] Sri Lanka clinched the title by defeating India in the Colombo final, marking their third victory and underscoring host advantages amid the expanded field.[28] The format drew contemporary criticism for its protracted three-stage design, which prolonged the tournament and amplified mismatches, as only one of the initial six games—Sri Lanka versus Pakistan—proved competitive, with weaker teams like UAE, Hong Kong, and a struggling Bangladesh contributing to lopsided results that diluted overall quality.[29] Despite these issues, the inclusion reflected the Asian Cricket Council's push for inclusivity to nurture emerging cricket nations, evidenced by participation growth from four teams in 2000 (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) to six in 2004.[7] This approach persisted into the 2008 edition, relocated to Pakistan from June 24 to July 6 due to ongoing security concerns in Sri Lanka tied to the civil war, retaining the six-team structure with two groups of three advancing top performers to a Super Four stage.[30] Sri Lanka defended their crown, overpowering India by 100 runs in the Karachi final, where spinner Ajantha Mendis took 6/13 to dismantle the chase.[31] Reports noted persistent quality concerns from associate inclusions, yet the editions empirically boosted exposure for non-elite teams while highlighting competitive gaps between full members and associates.[29]Format Shifts and Professionalization (2010s)
The 2012 Asia Cup, hosted by Bangladesh from March 11 to 22 in ODI format, saw Pakistan defeat Bangladesh by 2 runs in the final at Mirpur, marking Pakistan's second title.[32][4] The 2014 edition, also in Bangladesh and retaining the ODI format, concluded with Sri Lanka chasing down Pakistan's 260/6 to win by 5 wickets on March 8, securing Sri Lanka's fifth championship.[2][4] These tournaments maintained the traditional 50-over structure amid ongoing regional rivalries, with hosting in Bangladesh reflecting efforts to bolster local cricket infrastructure despite logistical challenges. In 2016, the Asian Cricket Council shifted the Asia Cup to T20I format for the first time, hosted in Bangladesh from February 24 to March 6, primarily to serve as preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 later that year.[33][34] India emerged victorious, beating Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the final at Mirpur on March 6.[2] This change represented a pragmatic alignment with global T20 trends rather than inherent innovation, as the shorter format was intended to enhance competitiveness and viewer engagement ahead of major ICC events, though specific viewership spikes for the 2016 edition relative to prior ODIs remain undocumented in available data. The 2018 tournament reverted to ODI format, relocated to the UAE (primarily Dubai and Abu Dhabi) from September 15 to 28 due to security concerns and political tensions preventing hosting in Pakistan or India.[35][36] India defended their title, defeating Bangladesh by 3 wickets in the final at Dubai on September 28.[2] During the 2010s, the Asian Cricket Council advanced professionalization by standardizing tournament operations, including format decisions tied to ICC cycles and increased commercialization through broadcasting deals, fostering administrative maturity while adapting to geopolitical constraints and the sport's evolving commercial landscape.[5][2] These shifts underscored a reactive strategy to maintain relevance amid T20's rise, prioritizing preparation for international fixtures over fixed format consistency.Recent Developments and Geopolitical Challenges (2020s)
The 2023 Asia Cup employed a hybrid hosting model, with four matches in Pakistan and the remainder, including all of India's fixtures, relocated to Sri Lanka following the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s refusal to travel to Pakistan on directives from the Indian government citing security risks.[37] [38] This arrangement, proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and approved by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), marked a compromise amid escalating bilateral tensions.[39] In the final on September 17 in Colombo, India defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets, chasing 51 in 6.1 overs after Sri Lanka collapsed for 50, securing India's eighth ODI-era title.[40] The 2025 T20 Asia Cup shifted to a fully neutral venue in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with matches across Dubai International Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28, despite Pakistan's initial hosting rights.[41] [42] The UAE's selection leveraged its experience with neutral-site events under similar India-Pakistan constraints. India clinched the title in the final on September 28 in Dubai, defeating Pakistan by five wickets to retain the trophy and claim a record ninth overall victory.[43] [44] These models trace to Pakistan's post-2009 isolation from major international cricket, triggered by a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore that killed eight and injured several, halting inbound tours for over a decade due to persistent militant threats.[45] [46] India's resultant non-travel policy, enforced since 2008 amid cross-border terrorism concerns, has enforced neutral or hybrid formats, with the ACC absorbing relocation logistics that sparked disputes over $3-4 million in extra costs for 2023, including chartered flights and venue shifts.[47] [48] Tournament outcomes underscore the hegemony of full members India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, who monopolized 2020s titles amid limited breakthroughs by qualifiers like Afghanistan.[12] Expansion initiatives falter under ACC governance, where full members wield vetoes on participation and formats, prioritizing entrenched rivalries over integrating associates, as evidenced by ongoing India-Pakistan impasses overriding broader regional inclusion.[49]Tournament Formats
ODI Eras
The One Day International (ODI) format dominated the Asia Cup from its debut in 1984 until 2014, comprising the first twelve editions hosted across Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and the United Arab Emirates. This 50-overs-per-side structure tested teams' endurance, strategic adaptability, and ability to construct large totals under pressure, with matches often extending into high-scoring affairs that rewarded disciplined bowling and deep batting lineups. The format's persistence reflected its alignment with the era's international cricket calendar, where ODIs served as the primary limited-overs standard, enabling Asian teams to hone skills for bilateral series and global events. Revivals in 2018 (hosted in the UAE and Oman) and 2023 (in Pakistan and Sri Lanka) reaffirmed its relevance, particularly as a precursor to ODI World Cups, with the Asian Cricket Council citing preparation for ICC tournaments as a key driver for retaining the format during those years.[50][2][51] Characteristics of the ODI eras included elevated scoring potential due to the longer duration, which allowed openers and middle-order batsmen to anchor and accelerate innings, fostering tactical depth absent in shorter formats. For instance, Pakistan set the highest team total record with 385/7 against Bangladesh at Dambulla on June 21, 2010, driven by aggressive strokeplay and exploiting flat pitches typical of Asian venues. The format built batting resilience, as evidenced by frequent partnerships exceeding 200 runs and centuries that shifted momentum, but it also exposed vulnerabilities to weather disruptions prevalent in monsoon-prone regions like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, resulting in multiple matches reduced by rain or abandoned. Empirical review of outcomes across these editions shows a pattern of decisive results, with only isolated ties or no-results, attributed to the capacity for lower-order recovery and fuller overs utilization compared to more swing-dependent shorter games.[52][53] Over fourteen ODI editions, finals consistently featured India, Sri Lanka, or Pakistan, with India claiming seven victories (1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2018, 2023), Sri Lanka five (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014), and Pakistan two (2012, though earlier shared claims adjusted to sole wins). This rivalry-centric pattern, spanning more than three decades, underscored the format's role in intensifying subcontinental competition while providing empirical benchmarks for player development, such as sustained run rates above 7 per over in winning chases. The alternation rationale post-2014 emphasized ODI use for World Cup tuning, ensuring teams like India and Pakistan accumulated match practice in 50-over scenarios ahead of events like the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, where Asia Cup performers often translated form directly.[54][55]T20I Introductions and Alternations
The Asia Cup adopted the T20I format for the first time in 2016, transitioning from its longstanding ODI base to emphasize shorter matches, rapid scoring, and aggressive tactics amid the surging global appeal of T20 cricket. Hosted in Bangladesh from 24 February to 6 March, the tournament featured five teams and aligned with preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 later that year, resulting in lower average team totals around 140-160 runs per innings compared to ODI editions' 250-plus benchmarks, while batting strike rates climbed toward 130-140 due to power-hitting priorities.[11][56] Subsequent editions reverted to ODI in 2018 before returning to T20I in 2022 and again in 2025, establishing a biennial alternation pattern synchronized with ICC World Cup cycles—opting for T20I in years preceding T20 World Cups (2016 before 2016, 2022 before 2022, 2025 before 2026) to serve as targeted warm-ups. This rotational approach, formalized after ICC restructuring in 2015 reduced the Asian Cricket Council's autonomy, aims to sustain fan engagement and commercial viability by mirroring T20's dominance in leagues like the IPL, though it has drawn critique for appearing reactive to format trends rather than preserving the event's original multi-faceted cricketing identity.[57][55][10] By October 2025, only three T20I Asia Cups had occurred, limiting historical depth relative to ODI iterations, yet the format's editions have amplified viewership through condensed, high-octane contests that favor explosive batting—evident in 2025's peak strike rates exceeding 200 for select players like Azmatullah Omarzai at 217.07. Proponents highlight enhanced inclusivity for associate teams via quicker pathways to competitive exposure, countering claims that T20I's brevity curtails skill-building in areas like prolonged innings management or varied bowling strategies, though empirical data shows sustained rivalries and attendance spikes tied to the format's accessibility.[58][57]Group Stages, Super Fours, and Finals Structure
The Asia Cup tournament progresses through a group stage, followed by a Super Four phase, and culminates in a single final match. Eight teams are divided into two groups of four, with each team contesting three matches against the others in its group under a round-robin system. Points are awarded as two for a win, one for a no-result or tie, and zero for a loss, with net run rate determining rankings in case of tied points. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Super Four stage.[59][60] In the Super Four, the four advancing teams are pooled into one group, where each plays the other three once in a round-robin format, retaining points only from intra-group Super Four matches rather than carrying over group-stage results. This setup ensures that leading teams, including traditional powerhouses, encounter each other multiple times, enhancing competitive depth and reducing the risk of early knockouts for stronger sides based on group-stage draw imbalances. The top two teams from the Super Four standings then compete in the final to determine the champion.[61][59] This structure was evident in the 2025 edition, where Group A included India and Pakistan alongside two other teams, both advancing to the Super Four after securing top-two finishes, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualified from Group B. The format's design fosters repeated high-stakes encounters among elite teams, such as potential rematches between India and Pakistan, thereby promoting fairness through extended evaluation opportunities.[14][62] While the additional Super Four matches can impose logistical demands on scheduling, travel, and player fatigue across multiple venues, the extended competition has demonstrably boosted tournament revenue via more games and heightened broadcast interest, as seen in the financial uptick for host boards from hosting fees and rights in recent cycles.[63]Qualification and Participation
Core Member Teams
The core member teams in the Asia Cup are the five full members of the Asian Cricket Council: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. These nations hold ICC full membership status, granting them automatic qualification for the tournament without needing to compete in preliminary qualifiers, a privilege rooted in their established cricketing infrastructure and consistent international performance.[64][65] India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have participated in every edition since the inaugural tournament in 1984, forming the foundational rivalry that defined early competitions, while Bangladesh achieved full membership in 2000 after years of associate-level growth and has been a fixture thereafter; Afghanistan, elevated to full status in 2017 following rapid progress from associate ranks, debuted in the Asia Cup in 2014 and has since become a regular contender.[66] India, with its vast population exceeding 1.4 billion and a robust domestic league system including the Indian Premier League launched in 2008, maintains unparalleled depth in player development, producing generations of world-class talent through high-volume grassroots and professional training. Pakistan leverages a history of producing express pace bowlers and aggressive batsmen, supported by a national academy system and a population base of over 240 million that sustains competitive domestic circuits despite intermittent political disruptions. Sri Lanka benefits from early investments in youth academies post-independence, yielding spin bowling expertise and resilient all-rounders from a cricket-mad island nation of 22 million, where the sport integrates deeply into national identity. Bangladesh emerged as a core participant after infrastructural reforms in the 1990s, including the establishment of the National Cricket Academy in 2005, drawing from a 170 million population to build batting and pace resources amid economic challenges. Afghanistan's inclusion reflects merit-driven ascent, with players honed in refugee camps and domestic leagues amid conflict, achieving ODI status in 2015 through qualifier successes before full membership, though limited formal infrastructure hampers consistency compared to peers.[65] These teams' centrality underscores merit-based hierarchies in Asian cricket, where participation and success correlate with scalable talent pipelines rather than equitable distribution. Empirically, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have contested nearly all finals, securing every title—India with nine (1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2025), Sri Lanka with six (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022), and Pakistan with two (2000, 2012)—while Bangladesh reached three finals without victory, and Afghanistan has yet to advance that far. This dominance arises causally from superior resource allocation: larger populations enable statistical advantages in talent identification, while advanced facilities and coaching yield higher skill proficiency, outpacing less developed systems without reliance on preferential inclusions.[2]Qualifier Tournaments and Debutants
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has organized dedicated qualifier tournaments since the early 2010s to determine participation slots for associate member nations in the Asia Cup, typically awarding two places to the top performers beyond the five full members (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).[67] These events, such as the ACC Men's Premier Cup, feature teams from regions including the Gulf and Southeast Asia, with participants like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, and Malaysia competing in multi-stage formats involving group rounds and knockouts.[68] The 2024 ACC Men's Premier Cup, held in Oman from April 10 to 23, exemplified this process, drawing 10 teams that had advanced from earlier ACC Challenger events or held direct elite associate status; the UAE clinched qualification for the 2025 Asia Cup by defeating Oman in the final on April 21.[69] Successful qualifier paths have enabled debut appearances for several associates, marking their entry into the Asia Cup's competitive field. Nepal debuted in the 2023 edition after topping the 2022 ACC Men's Premier Cup, while Oman achieved a breakthrough for the 2025 tournament via strong showings in recent ACC pathways, including the 2024 Premier Cup final.[69] Hong Kong and the UAE have repeatedly qualified since the 2000s, with Hong Kong advancing through the 2022 Asia Cup Qualification tournament in Oman, though their main-tournament records remain limited, with zero wins across multiple editions.[67] Performance data from qualifiers and subsequent Asia Cup matches highlight persistent barriers for debutants and qualifiers, including infrequent upsets against full members—associates have secured fewer than 5% of victories in head-to-head encounters since 2010, per tournament records.[70] This pattern reflects underlying resource gaps, such as inferior domestic structures and training facilities in associate nations compared to full members' professional ecosystems, resulting in lopsided outcomes like Nepal's three defeats by an aggregate of 142 runs in 2023. Such disparities prioritize the need for targeted development investments to bridge talent voids, rather than expanded access without corresponding competitive viability.[69]Expansion Efforts and Challenges
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) initiated efforts to broaden Asia Cup participation by establishing qualifier pathways for associate members, allowing teams beyond the five full members—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—to compete.[71] This included the introduction of events like the ACC Men's Premier Cup, which in 2024 selected UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong as qualifiers for the 2025 edition, expanding the tournament to eight teams for the first time in its history.[72] Such inclusions aimed to foster cricket development across Asia, building on sporadic associate involvement in earlier decades, such as UAE's hosting role in the 1980s and 1990s editions that occasionally featured four teams.[7] Despite these steps, expansion remains constrained by geopolitical tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, which have repeatedly disrupted tournament logistics and hosting decisions, indirectly limiting broader participation by prioritizing neutral venues like the UAE over regional inclusivity. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), wielding substantial influence due to its revenue generation from high-profile matches, effectively shapes ACC priorities, often favoring formats that maximize viewership from core full-member rivalries rather than diluting them with additional associates.[73] This dynamic reflects a causal prioritization of financial sustainability—where broadcasting deals tied to India-Pakistan encounters fund ACC operations—over idealistic goals of widespread regional growth, resulting in a historical peak of only eight teams despite Asia's population exceeding 4.7 billion.[74] Further challenges stem from disparate competitive levels, as associate teams' limited domestic infrastructures produce mismatches against full members, reducing the appeal of unchecked expansion and prompting ACC to cap qualifiers at three slots even in enlarged formats.[75] The 2025 qualifiers adhered to a merit-based structure via the Premier Cup, yet governance issues, including politically appointed leadership like ACC President Mohsin Naqvi—a Pakistani government minister—have invited criticisms of cronyism influencing decisions on venues and inclusions amid bilateral disputes.[76] These factors underscore how structural dependencies on dominant members hinder sustained broadening, with empirical outcomes showing associate participation fluctuating rather than steadily increasing since the 2000s.[77]Results and Statistics
Finals Summary Table
| Year | Host(s) | Format | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | UAE | ODI | India | Sri Lanka | 54 runs |
| 1986 | Sri Lanka | ODI | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | 5 wickets |
| 1988 | Bangladesh | ODI | India | Sri Lanka | 6 wickets |
| 1990 | Sri Lanka | ODI | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 18 runs |
| 1995 | UAE | ODI | India | Sri Lanka | 8 wickets |
| 1997 | Sri Lanka | ODI | Sri Lanka | India | 7 wickets |
| 2000 | Bangladesh | ODI | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 39 runs |
| 2004 | Sri Lanka | ODI | Sri Lanka | India | 25 runs |
| 2008 | Pakistan/Malaysia | ODI | Sri Lanka | India | 100 runs |
| 2010 | Sri Lanka | ODI | India | Sri Lanka | 81 runs |
| 2012 | Bangladesh | T20I | Pakistan | Bangladesh | 2 runs |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | T20I | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | 5 wickets |
| 2016 | Bangladesh | T20I | India | Bangladesh | 6 runs |
| 2018 | UAE | ODI | India | Bangladesh | 3 wickets |
| 2022 | UAE | T20I | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | 23 runs |
| 2023 | Pakistan/Sri Lanka | ODI | India | Sri Lanka | 10 wickets |
| 2025 | UAE | T20I | India | Pakistan | 5 wickets |