Asia Cup: List of winners from 1984 to 2022


image-l7z2j3dySri Lanka (PC: Twitter)

The long golden history of the Asia Cup just got better, with Sri Lanka crowned the new champions in the 15th edition of the prestigious tournament. The Lankan nation lifted the cup for the sixth time, whereas the powerhouse Indian side have held the trophy for a record seven times.

However, let's dive deep to look at how each edition panned out from the inaugural season in 1984 to latest in 2022:

1. Year: 1984, Host: UAE, Champions: India

In the three-team tournament hosted by UAE, India managed to ease past both Sri Lanka and Pakistan to earn the first-ever title. Led by legendary Sunil Gavaskar, India earned two victories, Sri Lanka won one, whereas the Pakistan side returned home winless.

2. Year: 1986, Host: Sri Lanka, Champions: Sri Lanka

India pulled out of the tournament due to differences with Sri Lanka and were replaced by Bangladesh. In the finals, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan to achieve their first-ever Asia Cup title.

image-l7z650lfSri Lanka emerged as the champions in 1986 (PC: Twitter)


3. Year: 1988, Host: Bangladesh, Champions: India

The Indian side returned to the fore, and it became a four-team event where again, they held the trophy after getting better of Sri Lanka by six wickets to lift their second title.

4. Year: 1990-91, Host: India, Champions: India

This time it was Pakistan's turn to pull out of the event after tense diplomatic relations with their neighbours and the host of the event, India. However, things didn't change much as the Men in Blue successfully defended their championship against the Island Nation.

5. Year: 1995, Host: UAE, Champions: India

After returning to full flow with four teams for the first time in eight years, this season of the Asia cup was very closely contested, with India and Sri Lanka making it to the event's grand finale. Unfortunately, Pakistan were eliminated due to an inferior run rate, whereas India, for the third time in a row, went home with the cup.

6. Year: 1997, Host: Sri Lanka, Champions: Sri Lanka

After three failed attempts to secure the title, Sri Lanka finally defeated India in the finals of the event by eight wickets under the leadership of great Arjuna Ranatunga, who guided them to their second top honour.

7. Year: 2000, Host: Bangladesh, Champions: Pakistan

image-l7z38j5tPakistan (PC: Twitter)

In the seventh edition, the Pakistan side led by Moin Khan eventually earned the accolade by beating the strong Sri Lankan side by 39 runs. However, four-time champions India for the first time, did not make it to the vital clash after losing two out of their three matches.


8. Year: 2004, Host: Sri Lanka, Champions: Sri Lanka

For the first time ever, teams were divided into two groups, with UAE and Hong Kong new entrants joining the wagon. Four teams barring the new joiners, progressed to the Super four stage, with India and Sri Lanka reaching the elite match once again. In the finals, Sri Lanka got better of India by 25 runs to win for the third time.

9. Year: 2008, Host: Pakistan, Champions: Sri Lanka

The 2008 edition of the Asia Cup was the first ever to be held in Pakistan, where Sri Lanka, led by Mahela Jayawardene, triumphed for the fourth time after thrashing India by a massive margin of 100 runs, thanks to Ajantha Mendis' record 6/13 which changed the course of the match. 

10. Year: 2010, Host: Sri Lanka, Champions: India

Back to the four-team format, India, under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, recorded success by 81 runs against the hosts in the final, after the wait of 15 long years. Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was adjudged player of the tournament after playing brilliantly in the tournament.

11. Year: 2012, Host: Bangladesh, Champions: Pakistan

image-l7z37rn2Pakistan 2012 (PC: Twitter)

In a closely contested finale of the tournament, Pakistan, led by Misbah-ul-Haq, conquered the prized title by a meagre margin of 2 runs, beating first-time finalists Bangladesh. Sachin Tendulkar's 100th century was also recorded in the match against the home side.


12. Year: 2014, Host: Bangladesh, Champions: Sri Lanka

Afghanistan side made their debut in this event in which Sri Lanka lifted their fifth championship, outclassing Pakistan by five wickets courtesy of Lasith Malinga's five wickets and Lahiru Thirimanne's 101. India, losing two and winning as many games, crashed out after the group stage.

13. Year: 2016, Host: Bangladesh, Champions: India

image-l7z32ogoIndia (PC: Twitter)

Asia Cup was hosted in the T20 format for the initial time, where India stunned Bangladesh by eight wickets in the rain-curtailed encounter. The champion Indian side remained undefeated in the tournament after dominating all of their opponents.


14. Year: 2018, Host: UAE, Champions: India

image-l7z3668dIndia 2018 (PC: Twitter)

Stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma took India to their seventh Asia Cup title when they barely managed to beat Bangladesh on the final delivery by three wickets, when scores were tied on the penultimate ball. India's another campaign in the Asia Cup went without a loss, except for a tie against Afghanistan in the super four stage.


15. Year: 2022, Host: UAE, Champions: Sri Lanka

image-l7z2v3uhSri Lanka (PC: Twitter)

The dark horses of the tournament, Sri Lanka went on to claim the victory after putting up an unbelievable show after beating both tournament favourites India and Pakistan. However, Dasun Shanaka-led side were found extremely difficult to crack in the later stages of the series, where they trounced Pakistan by 23 runs to put their name on the trophy for a record sixth time.


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