Published: Jul 30, 2023, 03:17 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 30, 2023, 03:33 PM (IST)
ASIA Cup 2023 is all set to commence on August 30, with Pakistan taking on Nepal in Multan. The iconic India vs Pakistan match will take place on September 2 in Pallekele. IND vs PAK is the cream of the event and the arch-rivals are likely to clash more than once in the tournament.
Unless there is a huge upset and Nepal beat one of India or Pakistan, the two teams will again clash on September 10 in Super 4s. There will be a possibility of the teams meeting again in the final.
The first Asia Cup was played in 1984, hosted by UAE. India emerged victorious in the inaugural edition, beating Sri Lanka in the final. So far, 15 editions of the Asia Cup have been played. The tournament is currently the only continental tournament in the world. The top six Asian teams participate in the tournament.
The Asia Cup in the last few years has been used as a platform to get prepared for bigger events like the World Cup. The previous season of the Asia Cup was played in a T20 format in the buildup to the T20 World Cup. Similarly, the upcoming season will be played in the 50-over format as a preparation for the ODI World Cup. In the 15 editions so far, only two times the tournament has been played in T20 format.
India won the first edition of the Asia Cup in 194, beating Sri Lanka in the final. Sri Lanka won the previous edition after beating Pakistan in the summit clash.
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | Format | Hosts |
| 1984 | India | Sri Lanka | ODI | UAE |
| 1986 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 1988 | India | Sri Lanka | ODI | Bangladesh |
| 1990-91 | India | Sri Lanka | ODI | India |
| 1995 | India | Sri Lanka | ODI | UAE |
| 1997 | Sri Lanka | India | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2000 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | ODI | Bangladesh |
| 2004 | Sri Lanka | India | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2008 | Sri Lanka | India | ODI | Pakistan |
| 2010 | India | Sri Lanka | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2012 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | ODI | Bangladesh |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | ODI | Bangladesh |
| 2016 | India | Bangladesh | T20I | Bangladesh |
| 2018 | India | Bangladesh | ODI | UAE |
| 2022 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | T20I | UAE |
| 2023 | TBA | TBA | Pakistan/Sri Lanka |
So far, only India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have managed to win the Asia Cup. Bangladesh made it to the final three times but suffered defeats in all three matches.
| Country | Winner | Runners-Up | Winning Year |
| India | 7 Times | 3 Times | 1984, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018 |
| Sri Lanka | 6 Times | Six Times | 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022 |
| Pakistan | 2 Times | 3 Times | 2002, 2013 |
| Bangladesh | 0 | 3 Times |
Sri Lanka won the 2022 edition of the Asia Cup after beating Pakistan in the final by 23 runs.
India have been the most successful team in Asia Cup history with 7 title wins. They won the cup in 1984, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2010, 2016, and 2018.
The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in a hybrid model. Out of the 13 games, Pakistan will host four matches while the remaining nine matches, including the final will be played in Sri Lanka.
The Asia Cup 2023 will be broadcast on Star Sports Network while the free streaming will be available on Jio Cinema.
