The Asia Cup, officially known as the ACC Men’s Asia Cup is a men’s international cricket tournament contested between Asian countries in either One Day International format (50 overs) and Twenty20 International cricket format (20 overs). It was established in 1983 when the Asian Cricket Council was founded as a measure to promote goodwill between Asian countries. It was originally scheduled to be held every two years. The Asia Cup is the only continental championship in cricket and the winning team becomes the champion of Asia. It alternates every 2-years between ODI and T20 formats. India are the current champions after winning the recent 2023 edition.
The first Asia Cup was held in 1984 in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates where the council’s offices were based (until 1995). 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.
India, with eight titles (seven ODI and one T20I), is the most successful team in the tournament. Sri Lanka is the second most successful team, with six, while Pakistan have won two titles. Sri Lanka has played the most Asia Cups (15) followed by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (14 each).
History
| Season | Format | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | ODI |  India |
| 1986 | ODI |  Sri Lanka |
| 1988 | ODI | India (2) |
| 1990 | 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) |
1984–1988
The first edition of the Rothmans Asia Cup was held in 1984 in Sharjah, UAE, the location of the headquarters of the newly formed Asian Cricket Council. The tournament was a round-robin tournament among India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The first match was between Pakistan and the new ICC member Sri Lanka. India won this tournament with two victories, Sri Lanka were the runners up in the tournament with a single victory over Pakistan, while Pakistan went home without winning either of its two games.
Sri Lanka was the host for the second edition in 1986. India pulled out of the tournament due to soured cricketing relations with Sri Lanka after a controversial series in Sri Lanka the previous year. Bangladesh was included for the first time. Sri Lanka won the tournament beating Pakistan in the final.
The third edition, in 1988, was held in Bangladesh, the first time a multi-national cricket tournament was held there. In the final, India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to win their second Asia Cup.
1990–1997
The fourth edition of the tournament was held in India in 1990–91. Pakistan had pulled out of the tournament due to strained political relations with India. India retained the Asia Cup defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
In 1993, the tournament was cancelled due to strained political relations between India and Pakistan.
The fifth edition, in 1995, took the series back to Sharjah, UAE after 11 years. India and Sri Lanka made it to the final by virtue of better run rate than Pakistan as all three teams had equal points after the preliminary round. For the third successive time, India defeated Sri Lanka in the final.
The sixth edition was held in Sri Lanka in 1997. Sri Lanka beat India in the final by 8 wickets to win its second Asia Cup.
2000–2010
The 7th edition took place in Bangladesh for the second time in 2000. Pakistan and Sri Lanka made it to the final while India only won one match against Bangladesh and surprisingly did not qualify for the final for the very first time. In the final, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka to win the Asia Cup for the very first time. Yousuf Youhana was the player of the Tournament.
2022
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.
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.
2023
Pakistan was awarded to host the tournament. 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.[21] 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 Sri Lanka, both got qualified for finals after two victories by each. The finals occurred in Sri Lanka. In a quick match, defending champions Sri Lanka lost to India by 10 wickets and got only 50 runs, giving target of 51 runs to the winning Indian team. It was 8th time win for India. Kuldeep Yadav was the Player of the Tournament due to his skilled bowling in the series.
Results
| Year | Format | Host Nation | Number of teams | Final Venue | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Result | Runner-up | |||||
| 1984 Details |
ODI |  United Arab Emirates |
3 | Sharjah CA Stadium, Sharjah |
India |
No finals; India won the tournament via Round-robin format | Sri Lanka [6] |
| 1986 Details |
ODI | Sri Lanka |
3 | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo |
Sri Lanka 195/5 (42.2 overs) |
Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (scorecard) |
Pakistan 191/9 (45 overs) |
| 1988 Details |
ODI |  Bangladesh |
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 | India |
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 | United Arab Emirates |
4 | Sharjah CA Stadium, Sharjah |
India 233/2 (41.5 overs) |
India won by 8 wickets (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 230/7 (50 overs) |
| 1997 Details |
ODI | Sri Lanka |
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 | Bangladesh |
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 | Sri Lanka |
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 | Pakistan |
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 | Sri Lanka |
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 | Bangladesh |
4 | Sher-e-Bangla National 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 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 Stadium, Mirpur |
India 122/2 (13.5 overs) |
India won by 8 wickets (scorecard) |
Bangladesh 120/5 (15 overs) |
|
| 2018 Details |
ODI | United Arab Emirates |
6 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai |
India 223/7 (50 overs) |
India won by 3 wickets (scorecard) |
Bangladesh 222 (48.3 overs) |
| 2022 Details[22] |
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[23] |
ODI | Pakistan Sri Lanka |
6 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | India 51/0 (6.1 overs) |
India won by 10 wickets Scorecard |
Sri Lanka 50 (15.2 overs) |
Tournament summary
Combined
The table below provides an overview of the performances of teams over past Asia Cup ODI and T20I tournaments.
| Team | Appearances | Best result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | First | Latest | ||
| India |
15 | 1984 | 2023 | Champions (1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023) |
| Sri Lanka |
16 | 1984 | 2023 | Champions (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022) |
| Pakistan |
15 | 1984 | 2023 | Champions (2000, 2012) |
| Bangladesh |
15 | 1986 | 2023 | Runners-up (2012, 2016, 2018) |
 Afghanistan |
4 | 2014 | 2023 | Super Four (2018, 2022) |
 Hong Kong |
4 | 2004 | 2022 | Group stage (2004, 2008, 2018, 2022) |
| United Arab Emirates |
3 | 2004 | 2016 | Group stage (2004, 2008, 2016) |
 Nepal |
1 | 2023 | 2023 | Group stage (2023) |
ODIs
The table below provides an overview of the performances of teams over past Asia Cup ODI tournaments.
| 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) | 56 | 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
The table below provides an overview of the performances of teams in the Asia Cup T20I tournament.
| Team | Appearances | Best result | Statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | First | Latest | Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Win% | ||
| India |
2 | 2016 | 2022 | Champions (2016) | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Sri Lanka |
2 | 2016 | 2022 | Champions (2022) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Pakistan |
2 | 2016 | 2022 | Runners-up (2022) | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Bangladesh |
2 | 2016 | 2022 | Runners-up (2016) | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 42.85 |
| Afghanistan |
1 | 2022 | 2022 | Super Four (2022) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| United Arab Emirates |
1 | 2016 | 2016 | Group stage (2016) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 00.00 |
| Hong Kong |
1 | 2022 | 2022 | Group stage (2022) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 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
|
1st
|
Champion |
|
2nd
|
Runners-up |
|
DNQ
|
Did not qualify |
|
Q
|
Qualified |
|
WD
|
Withdrawn |
|
GP
|
Group stage |
| ICC Full Member Nation |
An overview of the teams’ performances in every Asia Cup:
India has most titles i.e. 8, while Sri Lanka has second highest 6.
|
Host
Team
|
1984 ODI (3) |
1986 ODI (3) |
1988 ODI (4) |
1990-91 ODI (3) |
1995 ODI (4) |
1997 ODI (4) |
2000 ODI (4) |
2004 ODI (6) |
2008 ODI (6) |
2010 ODI (4) |
2012 ODI (4) |
2014 ODI (5) |
2016 T20I (5) |
2018 ODI (6) |
2022 T20I (6) |
2023 ODI (6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Afghanistan |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
— | — | 4th |
DNQ
|
4th | 4th | GP |
 Bahrain |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
| Bangladesh |
— | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 5th | 2nd | 2nd | GP | 3rd |
| Hong Kong |
— |
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — | — | GP | GP | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
GP | GP |
DNQ
|
| India |
1st |
WD
|
1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st |
 Kuwait |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
 Malaysia |
— | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
| Nepal |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
GP |
 Oman |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
— | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
| Pakistan |
3rd | 2nd | 3rd |
WD
|
3rd | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd |
2nd
|
4th |
 Qatar |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
 Saudi Arabia |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
 Singapore |
— |
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
— | — | — | — |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
| Sri Lanka |
2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 4th | 1st | 4th | GP |
1st
|
2nd |
| United Arab Emirates |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | GP | GP | — | — | — | 5th |
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
Debutant teams in main tournament
| Year | Teams |
|---|---|
| 1984 | India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
| 1986 | Bangladesh |
| 2004 | Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates |
| 2014 | Afghanistan |
| 2023 | Nepal |
Debutant teams in Asia Cup Qualifier
| Year | Teams |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Hong Kong,  Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, United Arab Emirates |
| 2006 | Afghanistan, Bahrain,  Bhutan,  Brunei,  Iran,  Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,  Thailand |
| 2016 | All participating cricket teams had T20I status |
| 2018 | Nepal and United Arab Emirates had ODI status |
| 2022 | All participating cricket teams had T20I status |
| 2023 | Nepal, Oman and United Arab Emirates had ODI status |
Championship summary
| Rank | Teams | Appearance | Titles | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India |
15 | 8 | 3 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka |
16 | 6 | 7 |
| 3 | Pakistan |
15 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Bangladesh |
15 | 0 | 3 |
Broadcasters
| Country | Broadcasters | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | GTV, T Sports &Rabbithole, Toffee (Online) | 2022-23 |
| India and Nepal | Star Sports | 2022-23 |
| Sri Lanka | ITN Sri Lanka | 2022-23 |
| Pakistan | PTV , Ten Sports | 2022-23 |
| Australia | Kayo Sports | 2022 |
| Hong Kong, Malaysia | Astro Cricket | 2022-23 |
| Singapore | HUB Sports | 2022-23 |
| UK | TNT Sports | 2022-23 |
| Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Southeast Asia | Yupptv | 2016-23 |