The Asia Cup, a prestigious cricket tournament, encompasses both One Day International (50 overs) and Twenty20 International (20 overs) formats. Its inception dates back to 1983, coinciding with the establishment of the Asian Cricket Council, aimed at fostering harmony among Asian nations. Originally slated to occur biennially, this event stands as the sole continental championship in cricket, bestowing the title of Asia’s champion upon the victorious team. The competition alternates between ODI and T20I formats every two years.
Initiated in Sharjah, UAE, in 1984, the inaugural Asia Cup marked the council’s headquarters until 1995. However, political strains caused India to boycott the 1986 edition against Sri Lanka, while Pakistan abstained from the 1990-91 event due to tensions with India. The 1993 tournament faced cancellation for the same reason. In 2009, the ACC announced a biennial frequency for the tournament. Notably, all matches within the Asia Cup hold official ODI status, as determined by the ICC.
Following the 2015 reduction of the Asian Cricket Council’s role, the ICC revealed a rotational system for the Asia Cup starting from 2016. This rotation basis alternates between the ODI and T20I formats, aligned with forthcoming world events. The 2016 tournament marked the shift to T20I format and served as a preparatory stage for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
India’s dominance shines through with seven titles (six in ODI and one in T20I), establishing them as the most successful team. Sri Lanka closely follows with six titles, while Pakistan holds two. Sri Lanka boasts the highest participation rate with 15 appearances, trailed by India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, each with 14 appearances.
Also read: Asia Cup 2023: India Squad Announcement Press Conference Tomorrow
Asia Cup Player of the Tournament List
Year | Player of the Tournament |
1984 | Surinder Khanna (India) |
1986 | Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) |
1988 | Navjot Singh Sidhu (India) |
1995 | Navjot Singh Sidhu (India) |
1997 | Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) |
2000 | Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) |
2004 | Sanatha Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) |
2008 | Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) |
2010 | Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) |
2012 | Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) |
2014 | Lahiru Thrimanne (Sri Lanka) |
2016 | Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh) |
2018 | Shikhar Dhawan (India) |
2022 | Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) |
2023 | NA |