With its rich history and ever-changing style, cricket has become more than just a sport, it’s a way of life. And you’ll find yourself appreciating the fact that when it comes to Asia, cricket is pretty much a religion. The Asia Cup is living proof of how much we adore the game in this part of the world.

The Asia Cup Cricket Tournament is this epic championship where the best cricket teams from all over the continent duke it out for the ultimate bragging rights. Since kicking off in 1984, the tournament has treated us to some amazing talents and heart-stopping moments that have left us on the edge of our seats. It’s an event that brings together people from all sorts of countries and cultures, united by their love for the sport. So, today, let’s raise a toast to cricket and the incredible players who have ruled the pitch, time and time again. It is time we review the timeline of the Asia Cup Cricket tournament again. So let’s get down to it then.

Asia Cup Cricket Winners List All Time

1. India: Asia Cup 1984 Winner

The Asia Cup cricket tournament was born in 1984, taking place in Sharjah, UAE, from April 6 to 13. The newly formed Asian Cricket Council hosted the event, with three teams in the mix: India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. India ruled the roost, winning both their matches and nabbing the very first Asia Cup title. Sri Lanka came in second, while Pakistan didn’t have the best time, losing both their games.

2. Sri Lanka: Asia Cup 1986 Winner

Fast forward to 1986, when Sri Lanka hosted a historic Asia Cup from March 30 to April 6. This time around, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka competed, with India bowing out due to cricketing tensions with Sri Lanka. Pakistan secured their spot in the final against Sri Lanka after winning both their matches. But in the end, it was Sri Lanka who emerged triumphant, bagging their first Asia Cup win.

3. India: Asia Cup 1988 Winner

In 1988, Bangladesh played host to the Asia Cup cricket tournament from October 26 to November 4. This time, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh battled it out. It was a landmark event for Bangladesh, as it marked the first-ever List A-classified games played in the country, then became an Associate Member of the ICC. India came out on top, beating Sri Lanka in the final by 6 wickets, claiming their second Asia Cup title.

4. India: Asia Cup 1991 Winner

The fourth edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament took place in India between December 25, 1990, and January 4, 1991. This time, only three teams participated: India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Political tensions with India led Pakistan to pull out. The final showdown was between India and Sri Lanka, with India winning by 7 wickets. This marked India’s third Asia Cup win and their second consecutive victory.

5. India: Asia Cup 1995 Winner

India did it again at the 1995 Asia Cup cricket tournament in Sharjah, UAE. From April 5 to 14, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh faced off. In the end, India and Sri Lanka advanced to the final due to their superior run rates. India emerged victorious in the final, defeating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets to grab their fourth Asia Cup title. Navjot Sidhu was crowned Player of the Series, while Sachin Tendulkar scored the most runs, and Anil Kumble took the most wickets.

6. Sri Lanka: Asia Cup 1997 Winner

Sri Lanka hosted the 1997 Asia Cup, marking the sixth edition of the event. From July 14 to 26, 1997, the island nation clinched its second Asia Cup title. The final match between India and Sri Lanka saw Sri Lanka win by 8 wickets. Arjuna Ranatunga stole the show once again, being named Player of the Series and scoring the most runs. Venkatesh Prasad of India took the most wickets in the tournament. This was Sri Lanka’s second time hosting the Asia Cup.

7. Pakistan: Asia Cup 2000 Winner

The seventh edition of the Asia Cup, also known as the Pepsi Asia Cup, took place in Bangladesh from May 29 to June 7, 2000. In the end, it was Pakistan who came out on top, defeating Sri Lanka by 39 runs in the final match. Yousuf Youhana was named Man of the Series for his outstanding performance throughout the tournament. This marked Pakistan’s first-ever Asia Cup win, with Yousuf Youhana also scoring the most runs.

8. Sri Lanka: Asia Cup 2004 Winner

Picture this, Sri Lanka, 2004, hosting the eighth edition of the Asia Cup. Four years had passed since the last one, and this time we got two newcomers, Hong Kong, and UAE, joining the usual suspects. Sadly, the newbies didn’t make it past the first stage, so we had India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka duking it out in the Super Fours. Sri Lanka came out on top, bagging their 3rd title after beating India by 25 runs.

9. Sri Lanka: Asia Cup 2008 Winner

Fast forward to 2008, and we’re in Pakistan for the 9th Asia Cup. The Super Fours saw India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka battling it out again. India and Sri Lanka came out on top, and Sri Lanka crushed India by a whopping 100 runs in the final, making it their fourth Asia Cup win. Ajantha Mendis was the star of the show, getting named Player of the Series.

10. India: Asia Cup 2010 Winner

The 2010 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka saw India take home the gold, securing their 5th title. The final match was between India and Sri Lanka, with India winning by a sweet 81 runs. Shahid Afridi was the Player of the Series, while Lasith Malinga took the most wickets. India and Sri Lanka ruled the group stages, and in the end, it was India who walked away with the trophy.

11. Pakistan: Asia Cup 2012 Winner

Asia Cup 2012 took place in Bangladesh, where Pakistan claimed their second title. The group stages were topped by Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the final was a close one. Pakistan clinched the win by just 2 runs. Shakib Al Hasan was awarded Player of the Series, while Virat Kohli and Umar Gul scored the most runs and took the most wickets. It was a milestone for Bangladesh, as they made it to the final for the first time.

12. Sri Lanka: Asia Cup 2014 Winner

In 2014, the Asia Cup took place in Bangladesh, with Sri Lanka snatching their 5th title. This time, Afghanistan made their debut in the tournament. The final saw Pakistan and Sri Lanka face off, with Sri Lanka winning by 5 wickets. Lahiru Thirimanne got the Player of the Series award, while Lasith Malinga and Saeed Ajmal were the top wicket-takers. Sri Lanka once again proved they were a force to be reckoned with.

13. India: Asia Cup 2016 Winner

The 13th edition of the Asia Cup switched things up, going T20I for the first time. Bangladesh hosted the tournament, which featured India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and UAE. India emerged as the champs, beating Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the final. This was India’s sixth Asia Cup title, and they remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

14. India: Asia Cup 2018 Winner

It was in the year 2018 when India took over their 7th Asia Cup winner title. This time, the Asia Cup took place in UAE, and there were a total of six teams competing with each other in the tournament. The final match was a nail-biter between India and Bangladesh, with India coming out on top, beating Bangladesh by three wickets in the final over. That win marked their seventh Asia Cup title.

15. Sri Lanka: Asia Cup 2022 Winner

Flash forward to 2022, and Sri Lanka clinched their sixth Asia Cup title in a thrilling T20I tournament held in Dubai. Initially, the event was supposed to take place in Sri Lanka, but political unrest and economic troubles shifted it to the UAE. The qualifiers were postponed due to the pandemic, which later took place in August 2022. India, the defending champs, was eliminated in the Super Four stage, leaving Pakistan and Sri Lanka to face off in the final on September 11, 2022. Sri Lanka triumphed, beating Pakistan by 23 runs and securing their spot as a powerhouse in the Asia Cup.

Conclusion

All in all, the Asia Cup is definitely one of the most famous and remarkable cricket tournaments in the world, and the proof of that is the millions of people who are eagerly waiting for the next edition to happen. We can only thank the people behind this tournament for spreading the love of cricket to more and more people with every thrilling edition.

Rocky

Passionate sports content writer, Rocky delves into the world of athletics with a keen eye for detail. With a background in journalism, he transforms moments on the field into compelling narratives that resonate with readers.