Asia Cup 2018: Looking back at all editions

1997: Champions Sri Lanka

The four teams met for the sixth edition of the tournament in Sri Lanka in 1997 and the then world champions did not give anybody else a chance to win it on their soil. Led by Ranatunga, the Lankans defeated all three opponents to book their place in the final.

India and Pakistan finished on same points but the former, led by Sachin Tendulkar, went through owing to a better run-rate. Bangladesh, on the other hand, lost all their three games. The final was again a one-sided affair with India at the receiving end this time. Ranatunga’s team won by 8 wickets to lift their second Asia Cup. The India-Pakistan game in this tournament was abandoned because of bad rain after Pakistan were reeling at 30 for 5.

2000 edition: Champions Pakistan

Pakistan had their first Asia Cup in 2000, 16 years since the tournament started, and they won it on the soil of Bangladesh. Captained by Moin Khan, Pakistan beat Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka to reach the final with a clean record.

India, led by Sourav Ganguly, lost both to Pakistan and Sri Lanka and crashed out of the tournament while the Lankans qualified for the final as the second-best team. Sanath Jayasuriya’s side, who were playing their seventh consecutive final in the Asia Cup, lost it by 39 runs. In this edition, Pakistan defeated India by 44 runs.

2004 edition: Champions Sri Lanka

This edition played in Sri Lanka saw a rise in the number of participants in Asia Cup and for the first time, two groups were made comprising three teams each. Two associate members – Hong Kong and UAE – joined the fray in the eighth version. Pakistan and Bangladesh, who won their first game in Asia Cup, went through to the Super Four stage from one group while Sri Lanka and India advanced from the other group.

In the Super Four stage, Sri Lanka topped the table despite a loss to India while the latter overtook Pakistan to make the final despite having the same number of wins owing to a bonus point rule. Sri Lanka choked India in the final despite scoring a modest 228 runs to win by 25 runs. India lost their game to Pakistan by 59 runs in this edition. Marvan Atapattu was Sri Lanka’s captain while India were led by Ganguly.