Asia Cup
Asia's continental championship, played in ODI and T20 formats.
- First held 1984
- 17 editions
- Reigning: India
- Roughly every two years; the format alternates between ODI and T20I ahead of ICC world events
Overview
The Men's Asia Cup is a continental cricket tournament organised by the Asian Cricket Council, first played in 1984. India are the most successful side with nine titles, having beaten Pakistan in the 2025 final.
The Asia Cup was established in 1983, alongside the formation of the Asian Cricket Council, and the first edition was played in Sharjah in 1984 with three teams. India won that tournament, and Sri Lanka took the second tournament in 1986, which India boycotted. The ICC recognises all Asia Cup matches played in the ODI format as official One Day Internationals.
Politics has often shaped the tournament. Pakistan withdrew from the 1990-91 edition in India, and the 1993 edition was cancelled because of tensions between India and Pakistan. The 2018 edition was moved from India to the UAE for similar reasons, the 2022 edition was moved from Sri Lanka to the UAE during the country's economic crisis, and in 2023 a hybrid model saw matches split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
After the ICC downsized the ACC in 2015, Asia Cups from 2016 alternated between ODI and T20I formats according to the upcoming world event. India have won nine titles (seven ODI, two T20I), Sri Lanka six and Pakistan two. The 2025 edition was a T20I tournament with eight teams in the UAE, and India beat Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai to win the final.
How it works
The 2025 edition featured eight teams in two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to a Super 4 round-robin stage. The top two Super 4 teams then played the final. The format alternates between ODI and T20I, and the 2027 edition is scheduled to return to ODIs with six teams.
Who has won it most?
Titles won by each team across all 17 editions.
Winners by year
Newest first.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Host | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | India | Pakistan | United Arab Emirates | India won by 5 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Abhishek SharmaEight teams for the first time. India had originally been named host, but the tournament was moved to the UAE. India won their ninth title. |
| 2023 | India | Sri Lanka | Pakistan and Sri Lanka | India won by 10 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Kuldeep YadavHybrid hosting model: four matches in Pakistan and the rest in Sri Lanka. The first Asia Cup held in more than one country. |
| 2022 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | United Arab Emirates | Sri Lanka won by 23 runsPlayer of the tournament: Wanindu HasarangaSri Lanka Cricket remained the nominal hosts, but the tournament was played in the UAE amid Sri Lanka's economic crisis. |
| 2018 | India | Bangladesh | United Arab Emirates | India won by 3 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Shikhar DhawanMoved to the UAE from India because of political tensions between India and Pakistan. |
| 2016 | India | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | India won by 8 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Sabbir RahmanFirst Asia Cup played in the T20I format. |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka won by 5 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Lahiru ThirimanneAfghanistan played in the Asia Cup for the first time. |
| 2012 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | Pakistan won by 2 runsPlayer of the tournament: Shakib Al HasanBangladesh reached the final for the first time. |
| 2010 | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | India won by 81 runsPlayer of the tournament: Shahid AfridiFour-team tournament; Player of the tournament Shahid Afridi played for Pakistan. |
| 2008 | Sri Lanka | India | Pakistan | Sri Lanka won by 100 runsPlayer of the tournament: Ajantha MendisAjantha Mendis took 6/13 in the final. |
| 2004 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 25 runsPlayer of the tournament: Sanath JayasuriyaSix teams, with Hong Kong and the UAE joining. |
| 2000 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | Pakistan won by 39 runsPlayer of the tournament: Yousuf Youhana (Mohammad Yousuf)Pakistan's first title; India failed to reach the final for the first time. |
| 1997 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 8 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Arjuna Ranatunga |
| 1995 | India | Sri Lanka | United Arab Emirates | India won by 8 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Navjot Sidhu |
| 1990-91 | India | Sri Lanka | India | India won by 7 wicketsPakistan withdrew because of political tensions with India. Player of the tournament was not awarded. (The 1993 edition was cancelled.) |
| 1988 | India | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | India won by 6 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Navjot SidhuFirst multi-nation cricket tournament staged in Bangladesh. |
| 1986 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 5 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Arjuna RanatungaIndia boycotted this edition. |
| 1984 | India | Sri Lanka | United Arab Emirates | India won the round-robin (no final played)Player of the tournament: Surinder KhannaInaugural edition, three teams (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan). The title was decided on the round-robin table. |
Records & facts
- Most titles
- India (9: seven ODI, two T20I); Sri Lanka 6; Pakistan 2
- Most runs (ODI)
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), 1,220 runs (as of 2023)
- Most wickets (all formats)
- Kuldeep Yadav (India), 36
- Most wickets (ODI)
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), 30 (as of 2023)
- Highest individual score (ODI)
- 183 by Virat Kohli (India) v Pakistan, 2012
- Most runs in an ODI tournament
- 378 by Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), 2008
- Most runs in the T20I tournament
- 314 by Abhishek Sharma (India), 2025
- Best bowling figures (ODI)
- 6/13 by Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka), 2008
- Highest team total (ODI)
- 385/7, Pakistan v Bangladesh, 2010
- Lowest team total (ODI)
- 50, Sri Lanka v India, 2023 final
- Highest partnership (ODI)
- 233* by KL Rahul and Virat Kohli (India), 3rd wicket v Pakistan, 2023
- Most centuries (ODI)
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), 6
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