Asia Cup 2018: Looking back at all editions

2008 edition: Champions Sri Lanka

The ninth edition of the Asia Cup took place four years after the last one and it took place in Pakistan, for the first and the only time so far. Besides the regular four in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, two associate nations – Hong Kong and the UAE – participated and there were two groups comprising three teams each.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced to the Super Four stage from one group while India and hosts Pakistan made it from the other group. In the Super Four stage, Sri Lanka and India finished as the top two sides to march into the final which, however, was a one-sided affair with the Islanders winning by 100 runs. Spinner Ajantha Mendis took 6 for 13 to bowl out India while they were in the hunt for 274 to win. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was India’s captain while Lanka was led by Mahela Jayawardene. India and Pakistan won a game apiece in this tournament.

2010 edition: Champions India

India bagged their fifth Asia Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka in their own den in the final. The latter also made their ninth consecutive final in the tournament, something which no other team has accomplished till now. The tournament was back to its old four-team format with Sri Lanka and India finishing as the top two teams.

India lost only to Sri Lanka and they avenged the loss in the final which they won by 81 runs. MS Dhoni captained India in this edition while the Lankans were led by Kumar Sangakkara. India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan, led by Shahid Afridi, by 3 wickets in this tournament. Afridi was the man of the series.

2012 edition: Champions Pakistan

This edition was played in Bangladesh and like in 2000, the champions were Pakistan. Under Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan finished as the group toppers and qualified for the finals with Bangladesh who ended second in the table, defeating India and Sri Lanka. The hosts led by Mushfiqur Rahim, then had a heartbreak in the final as they lost the game by just 2 runs.

This tournament was special as it saw former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar hitting his 100th and final international hundred while Virat Kohli produced a memorable knock of 183 while successfully chasing a 320-plus target against Pakistan. That game was also Tendulkar’s final ODI.