- Dec 2, 2024
Asia Cup is one of the biggest continental cricket tournaments. As the name suggests, this tournament is played among countries from Asia, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other associate nations such as Hong Kong, UAE, etc.
First established in 1983, the tournament has been organised a total of 15 times so far. Of all those 15 times, it was held in a 50-over format on 13 occasions and in T20I format on 2 occasions. As the great tournament readies itself to entertain billions of people,
Let’s look at a few details such as Asia Cup winners, schedule, and the best players that the tournament showcased in history
India has been the most successful Asia Cup team so far. The Men in Blue have won the multiformat tournament 7 times. Sri Lanka is not too far away with 6 titles to their name. Sri Lanka is also the current Asia Cup holder, as they defeated Pakistan in the final of Asia Cup 2022.
Year | Winner | Runners-up | Host | Format |
1984 | India | Sri Lanka | UAE | ODI |
1986 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | ODI |
1988 | India | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | ODI |
1990–91 | India | Sri Lanka | India | ODI |
1995 | India | Sri Lanka | UAE | ODI |
1997 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka | ODI |
2000 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | ODI |
2004 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka | ODI |
2008 | Sri Lanka | India | Pakistan | ODI |
2010 | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | ODI |
2012 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | ODI |
2014 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Bangladesh | ODI |
2016 | India | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | T20 |
2018 | India | Bangladesh | UAE | ODI |
2022 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | UAE | T20 |
2023 | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | ODI |
India is the most successful team in the Asia Cup history. The Men in Blue have won the continental tournament a total of 7 times. In fact, India were the winners of the inaugural tournament back in 1985. Of all their 7 wins, 6 have come in ODI formats whereas 1 has been in the T20I format (2016).
Only three teams have won the Asia Cup in the history of the tournament. India leads the charts with 7 wins in 15 participations. Sri Lanka is in a close second with 6 wins. India’s neighbour and arch-rivals Pakistan have won the Asia Cup on just two occasions.
Team Name | Winner | Runner-up | Winning Year |
India | 7 | 3 | 1984, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018 |
Sri Lanka | 6 | 6 | 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022 |
Pakistan | 2 | 3 | 2000, 2012 |
Sri Lanka great Sanath Jayasuriya leads the scoring charts with 1220 runs in 25 matches. His compatriot Kumar Sangakkara is a close second with 1075 runs in 24 matches. Indian legend and one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Sachin Tendulkar with 971 runs keeps India’s flag flying high in Asia Cup history.
S.No | Player | Span | Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR |
1 | ST Jayasuriya (SL) | 1990-2008 | 25 | 1220 | 130 | 53.04 | 102.52 |
2 | KC Sangakkara (SL) | 2004-2014 | 24 | 1075 | 121 | 48.86 | 84.51 |
3 | SR Tendulkar (IND) | 1990-2012 | 23 | 971 | 114 | 51.1 | 85.47 |
4 | Shoaib Malik (PAK) | 2000-2018 | 17 | 786 | 143 | 65.5 | 90.65 |
5 | RG Sharma (IND) | 2008-2018 | 22 | 745 | 111* | 46.56 | 84.94 |
6 | A Ranatunga (SL) | 1984-1997 | 19 | 741 | 131* | 57 | 82.79 |
7 | Mushfiqur Rahim (BAN) | 2008-2018 | 21 | 699 | 144 | 36.78 | 84.52 |
8 | DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | 2000-2014 | 28 | 674 | 78 | 29.3 | 87.64 |
9 | MS Dhoni (IND) | 2008-2018 | 19 | 648 | 109* | 64.8 | 87.68 |
10 | PA de Silva (SL) | 1984-2000 | 24 | 645 | 96* | 32.25 | 83.44 |
Best Bowlers in Asia Cup History:When it comes to bowling, Sri Lanka legend Muthiah Muralitharan tops the table with 30 wickets in 24 matches. Lasith Malinga, the former Sri Lanka speedster sits second with 29 wickets in 14 matches.
S.No | Player | Span | Mat | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
1 | M Muralidaran (SL) | 1995-2010 | 24 | 230.2 | 13 | 865 | 30 | 5/31 | 28.83 | 3.75 | 46.06 |
2 | SL Malinga (SL) | 2004-2018 | 14 | 128.1 | 6 | 596 | 29 | 5/34 | 20.55 | 4.65 | 26.51 |
3 | BAW Mendis (SL) | 2008-2014 | 8 | 68 | 5 | 271 | 26 | 6/13 | 10.42 | 3.98 | 15.69 |
4 | Saeed Ajmal (PAK) | 2008-2014 | 12 | 115 | 6 | 485 | 25 | 3/26 | 19.39 | 4.21 | 27.6 |
5 | WPUJC Vaas (SL) | 1995-2008 | 19 | 152.2 | 20 | 639 | 23 | 3/30 | 27.78 | 4.19 | 39.73 |
6 | IK Pathan (IND) | 2004-2012 | 12 | 109.1 | 1 | 605 | 22 | 4/32 | 27.5 | 5.54 | 29.77 |
7 | ST Jayasuriya (SL) | 1990-2008 | 25 | 148.5 | 2 | 667 | 22 | 4/49 | 30.31 | 4.48 | 40.59 |
8 | Abdur Razzak (BAN) | 2004-2014 | 18 | 170.2 | 10 | 796 | 22 | 3/17 | 36.18 | 4.67 | 46.45 |
9 | RA Jadeja (IND) | 2010-2018 | 14 | 116.1 | 4 | 505 | 19 | 4/29 | 26.57 | 4.34 | 36.68 |
10 | Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 2010-2018 | 13 | 127.4 | 5 | 622 | 19 | 4/42 | 32.72 | 4.87 | 40.31 |