History of Asia Cup: Winners and losers of the past

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History of Asia Cup: Winners and losers of the past

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(Web Desk) – Asia Cup as its name suggests belongs to cricket-loving Asian countries which include Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Hong Kong is Asia Cup 2018 qualifier and is the part of this year tournament. The cup is a One-Day International (ODI) cricket tournament that has been held since 1984. It was basically the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), regional administrative body overviewing matters related to cricket in the continent, which came up with the idea of this tournament in 1983.

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The cup was initiated with the aim of promoting goodwill between Asian nations. At first, there were only three teams, India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka, which faced each other in Sharjah. The first tournament in 1984 was won by India.

Photo: File

1986 Asia Cup was held in Sri Lanka who also became victorious by beating Pakistan. This was the first time Independent umpires were placed. ICC member with Dickie Bird and David Shepherd from England and Mehboob Shah from Pakistan umpired the matches.

Photo: File

The next match was held in Bangladesh in 1988 which was won by India and runner-up team was Sri Lanka.

Photo: Revolvy

Era from 1990 to 1997

1990-91 Asia Cup was held in India which won it beating Sri Lanka. 1995 Asia Cup was hosted by Sharjah and the winner was India while Sri Lanka stood runner-up. This was the fourth time India won this. In 1997, Asia Cup was hosted by Sri Lanka which won it by defeating India. Sri Lanka was in good pace as they had won the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

2000 Asia Cup was won by Pakistan, and it was their first time. They beat Sri Lanka, a quite sturdy, robust opposition.

Photo: AFP

The next Asia Cup was held in Sri Lanka on 2004 and was won by the hosting country team. It faced India in the final. Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates were also part of the game as for the first time non-Test playing countries were allowed to play.

Photo: AFP

2008 Asia Cup was won by Sri Lanka and India stood Runner-up. It was the ninth edition which was hosted by Pakistan. Moreover, it was Sri Lankan fourth win, and India and Sri Lanka stood equal winning it for fourth time.

Photo: File

2010 Asia Cup was hosted by Sri Lanka. India won the cup and stood runner-up.

Photo: File

The next Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh in 2012. Pakistan won it for the second time and Bangladesh was runner up.

Introduction of Twenty 20 (T20) format in Asia Cup

ICC modified terms of the tournament and for the very first time, Twenty 20 (T20) was introduced. International Cricket Council (ICC) announced to hold this event on rotation basis between ODI & T20I formats. Keeping this in view, 2016 edition was played in T20. It was won by India and Bangladesh stood runner up.

Indian has won the cup six times, Sri Lanka five times and Pakistan only two times. The 2018 Asia Cup is going to be held in UAE considering the threats in India for Pakistan (The tournament was supposed to be hosted by India). PCB asked for its relocation. Keeping these things in view, the cricketing parent organization ICC changed the venue. Pakistan will face India on September 19, and this for sure is going to be an amazing match as Pakistan have proved their mettle in ICC Champions Trophy in London.

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It was a battle on cricket ground. Indian players could not stand a chance of facing Pakistan and shattered beyond expectations. Indian media and nation were overjoyed and boasted their batting line-up. They even made fun of Pakistani cricket team but things went in opposite direction. Keeping it straight, match between Pakistan and India in this Asia Cup 2018 will be nail-biting and nerve-wrecking than the final of the tournament itself.

By Junaid Ali Malik