The Asia Cup, officially known as the ACC Men’s Asia Cup, is an international cricket tournament that is played between Asian countries in either One-Day or T-20 format. Asia Cup is held every two years and features teams across Asia, including the major cricketing nations, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and others. It is a unique and only cricket tournament in the World that focuses on countries from a single continent.
The very first edition of the Asia Cup was held in 1984 in Sharjah, UAE. It was a round-robin tournament between India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and the first match was played between Pakistan and the newly joined ICC member Sri Lanka. Since then, the entire campaign has never looked back.
In this blog, we will understand the history of this prominent cup and share a list of the most Asia Cup winners.
Asia Cup Winners List
| Year | Winner | Runner Up | Hosting Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | India | Sri Lanka | UAE |
| 1986 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| 1988 | India | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh |
| 1991 | India | Sri Lanka | India |
| 1995 | India | Sri Lanka | UAE |
| 1997 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2000 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh |
| 2004 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2008 | Sri Lanka | India | Pakistan |
| 2010 | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| 2012 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Bangladesh |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Bangladesh |
| 2016 | India | Bangladesh | Bangladesh |
| 2018 | India | Bangladesh | UAE |
| 2022 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | UAE |
| 2023 | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka and Pakistan |
Asia Cup Winners Over the Years
Asia Cup 1984
Hosts – United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Winner: India
The inaugural edition of the Asia Cup laid the foundation for a cricketing tradition that would endure for decades. Held in the UAE, the tournament saw India emerge as the first-ever Asia Cup champions. The team, led by Sunil Gavaskar, displayed stellar performances to clinch the title.
Asia Cup 1986
Hosts – Sri Lanka
Winner: Sri Lanka
The Asia Cup ventured to Sri Lanka for its second edition, where the host nation, under the captaincy of Duleep Mendis, triumphed over arch-rivals India in a closely contested final. Sri Lanka’s victory marked the beginning of their cricketing ascendancy on the international stage.
Asia Cup 1988
Hosts – Bangladesh
Winner: India
The third edition of the Asia Cup was hosted by Bangladesh, and India reclaimed the title under the captaincy of Dilip Vengsarkar. The tournament showcased the growing competitiveness among Asian cricketing nations.
Asia Cup 1990-91
Hosts – India
Winner: India
India once again played host to the Asia Cup, and they emerged victorious for the third time in the tournament’s history. Mohammad Azharuddin led the team to success, reinforcing India’s dominance in the subcontinent.
Asia Cup 1995
Hosts – Sharjah, UAE
Winner: India
The tournament returned to the UAE, with India securing its fourth Asia Cup title. Led by Mohammad Azharuddin, the Indian team showcased its batting prowess, with Sachin Tendulkar playing a pivotal role in the triumph.
Asia Cup 1997
Hosts – Sri Lanka
Winner: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka hosted the Asia Cup for the second time, and this edition saw the island nation reclaiming the title after a convincing performance in the final against India. Arjuna Ranatunga led his team to glory, showcasing Sri Lanka’s cricketing mettle.
Asia Cup 2000
Hosts – Bangladesh
Winner: Pakistan
The new millennium brought the Asia Cup to Bangladesh once again, and Pakistan emerged victorious under the captaincy of Moin Khan. The tournament witnessed some memorable matches, with Pakistan’s all-round performance sealing their triumph.
Asia Cup 2004
Hosts – Sri Lanka
Winner: Sri Lanka
Returning to Sri Lanka after seven years, the Asia Cup saw Sri Lanka securing their second title. Led by Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka displayed a balanced team effort, with notable contributions from players like Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara.
Asia Cup 2008
Hosts – Pakistan
Winner: Sri Lanka
The Asia Cup ventured to Pakistan in 2008, but the tournament was marred by security concerns, leading to its relocation to Karachi. Sri Lanka emerged as the champions once again, with a talented squad led by Mahela Jayawardene.
Asia Cup 2010
Hosts – Sri Lanka
Winner: India
The 2010 edition, hosted by Sri Lanka, witnessed a thrilling final between India and Sri Lanka. India, under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, emerged victorious, marking their sixth Asia Cup triumph. Dinesh Karthik’s memorable innings played a crucial role in India’s success.
Asia Cup 2012
Hosts – Bangladesh
Winner: Pakistan
The Asia Cup returned to Bangladesh, and this time, Pakistan secured the title under the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq. The tournament featured some closely contested matches, with Pakistan’s consistent performances earning them the championship.
Asia Cup 2014
Hosts – Bangladesh
Winner: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka continued its dominance in the Asia Cup, winning their fifth title in Bangladesh. This edition featured high-scoring encounters and showcased the evolving dynamics of limited-overs cricket.
Asia Cup 2016
Hosts – Bangladesh
Winner: India
In the 2016 edition, held in Bangladesh, India emerged victorious once again. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli, India showcased its batting prowess, with Kohli’s masterful performances earning him the Player of the Tournament award.
Asia Cup 2018
Hosts – United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Winner: India
The Asia Cup then returned to the UAE in 2018, and India secured its seventh title. The tournament featured a memorable clash between India and Pakistan, and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy played a crucial role in India’s success.
Asia Cup 2022
Hosts – UAE
Winner: Sri Lanka
The 2022 Asia Cup was the 15th Edition of this tournament, with matches played in T20I format during August and September 2022 in the United Arab Emirates. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the finals, to win their sixth title and their first one in T20I format.
Asia Cup 2023
Hosts – Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Winner: India
Due to political reasons, the 16th edition of the tournament was played in 2 countries, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India first bowled out Sri Lanka for a mere 50 runs and then chased the target in just 6.1 overs with no wickets lost.
In conclusion, the Asia Cup has been a captivating journey through the cricketing landscapes of the continent. From its humble beginnings in the UAE to becoming a biennial extravaganza, the tournament has witnessed the rise and fall of cricketing powerhouses. As we eagerly await the next edition, the Asia Cup remains a testament to the spirit of cricket that unites nations and fans across Asia.
Moving forward, we will present a list of Asia Cup Winners over the past 30 years.
Most Asia Cup Winners List
| Teams | Winners | Runner-ups | Winning Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 8 Times | 3 | 1984, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2023. |
| Sri Lanka | 6 Times | 7 | 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, and 2022. |
| Pakistan | 2 Times | 3 | 2000 and 2012 |
| Bangladesh | Not Yet | 3 | Not Yet |
| Afghanistan | Not Yet | Not Yet | Not Yet |
| Hong Kong | Not Yet | Not Yet | Not Yet |
Well, by this we can say that with 8 titles, India tops the list of most Asia Cup winners.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan hold the 2nd and 3rd spot, respectively, in the list of Asia Cup winners.
On the other hand, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong are yet to leave their mark in this tournament as they have never won a single title which makes them purposeless in the list of Asia Cup Winners.
