Asia Cup 2022: The Asia Cup will begin on August 27 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The most awaited clash will be between India and Pakistan on August 28. Rohit Sharma-led India will enter the tournament as defending champions. In which he will try to maintain his winning record.
Read more: Punjab Kings Rubbished the Report of Removal of Mayank Agarwal from captaincy
The Asia Cup-History
The Asian Cricket Council Asia Cup is a men’s One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket tournament. 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 T20I formats.
India is the most successful team in the history of the Asia Cup-
India is the most successful team in the history of the Asia Cup, having won the tournament seven times (six ODIs and one T20I) since the inaugural edition in 1984.
This year will be played as a 20-over game-
In 2016, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided that the Asia Cup would be played between ODI and T20I on a rotation basis. And this year again it will be played as a 20-over game.
Read more: Legends League Cricket 2022: The Legends League Cricket Season 2 Schedule Announced
38 years with the Asia Cup- Victory List
The first Asia cup was held in 1984 in Sharjah-
The first Asia cup was held in 1984 in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates where the council’s offices were based (until 1995). Started with just three teams: India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. India had faced Sri Lanka in the final match and under Sunil Gavaskar’s leadership, the team lifted the inaugural trophy. Indian team dominated the 1984 tournament as a whole as they topped the points table.
India boycotted the 1986 tournament-
India boycotted the 1986 tournament due to strained cricketing relations with Sri Lanka. The team did not participate in the tournament to mark their displeasure with Sri Lanka. In 1985, India played a controversial series with Sri Lanka and further, due to strained cricketing relations with the Lankans, India pulled out their name from the tournament. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the finals and lifted the trophy
India came back with a bang in the 1988 edition held in Dhaka-
After missing the 1986 tournament, India came back with a bang in the 1988 edition held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Men in Blue defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets wherein Arshad Ayub bowled India to victory.
Read more: 3rd ODI against New Zealand 2023 World Cup: West Indies’ direct-qualification hopes dashed
India hosted the 1990-91 Asia Cup and also became the winner-
India hosted the 1990-91 Asia Cup and also became the winners of the tournament for the third time. In this edition, Pakistan had pulled out of the tournament due to soured political relations with India.
India made a hat-trick of titles by winning the Asia Cup-
In 1995, India made a hat-trick of titles by winning the Asia Cup. The tournament was ideally supposed to be in 1993. Azharuddin again showcased his prowess as the captain of the Indian team and defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the finals. It was India’s fourth Asia Cup title.
In 1997, Asia Cup returned to Sri Lanka-
In 1997, Asia Cup returned to Sri Lanka and the hosts won the trophy for the second time under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga.
2000: Pakistan won their maiden Asia Cup-
Pakistan won their maiden Asia Cup after they defeated Sri Lanka by 39 runs in the final under Moin Khan’s leadership at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka. Pakistan team had shown an all-around performance in the tournament.
Read more: Asia Cup 2022: Innings Of The Last 10 T20 Matches Between Virat Kohli And Babar Azam
2004: The first time, a total of six teams participated in the tournament-
Asia Cup 2004 was quite different from the previous editions as for the first time, a total of six teams participated in the tournament. Along with the leading Asian nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka), the UAE and Hong Kong were also adding to the game. Marvan Atapattu’s leadership took Sri Lanka to victory for the third time as they defeated India.
Sri Lanka defended their Asia Cup title in 2008-
Sri Lanka defended their Asia Cup title in 2008 under the captaincy of Mahela Jayawardene. They again defeated India in the finals.
2010: Fifth Asia Cup title in 2010 under the leadership of captain MS Dhoni-
Team India clinched their fifth Asia Cup title in 2010 under the leadership of captain MS Dhoni. They finished second in the points table with nine points and in the finals, defeated the hosts Sri Lanka by 81 runs. Dinesh Karthik was the main architect of the victory.
Asia Cup 2012 is one of the most memorable seasons ever-
Asia Cup 2012 is one of the most memorable seasons ever as Pakistan snatched the match from the jaws of Bangladesh lions at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Mirpur Thana. Bangladesh was just about to clinch their maiden title when they restricted Pakistan on 236/9 in 50 overs. Tamim Iqbal (60) and Shakib Al Hasan (68) almost took Bangladesh to the finish line but fell short of two runs. As a result, Pakistan won their second Asia Cup title under the leadership of Misbah-ul-Haq wherein Pakistani pacer Umar Gul became the most successful bowler with nine wickets.
Read more: Asia Cup 2022: Mohammad Rizwan Practicing in The Nets For The India-Pakistan Match
Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews won the fifth Asia Cup title for the country in 2014 and they defeated Pakistan by five wickets.
Dhoni’s second Asia Cup victory as a captain in 2016-
MS Dhoni-led India won the first-ever T20I version of the Asia Cup in 2016. It was Dhoni’s second Asia Cup victory as a captain.
In 2018, India defended their Asia Cup title continuing their consistency and brilliant run in the tournament.
The Asia Cup 2022-23
Asia Cup was scheduled for 2020 but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was postponed to 2021 and then deferred till 2023. In October 2021, it was decided that Pakistan would host the tournament in 2023. While Sri Lanka will take charge of the 2022 edition. But, due to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the tournament shifted to UAE. The Asia Cup 2022 finale will play on September 11
