Asia Cup 2018: The best moments in the history of Asia Cup

Asia Cup, the premier limited-overs tournament of Asian countries has been evolving in terms of format and domination over the last 34 years. The first ever edition was played in 1984 involving only three teams and didn’t even have a final as it was completed in only three games. The current edition of the tournament lasts 13 matches which includes as many as five full-member countries.

Asia Cup was even played in the T20I format ahead of the World T20 in 2016. Here are some of the best and significant moments recorded in the history of the Asia Cup thus far:

1. Afridi vs Ashwin in 2014:

India and Pakistan faced off in the 2014 Asia Cup for the first time since the CT 2013 meeting. India batted first after losing the toss but Rohit Sharma got into the Pakistan bowling with a quick-fire fifty. The opener brought up his fifty in just 44 balls despite losing Shikhar Dhawan and the skipper Virat Kohli at the other end. Rohit got out for a 58-ball 56 and things slowed down during the middle overs as Ajinkya Rahane and Dinesh Karthik made 23 runs apiece in 50 and 46 balls respectively.

Ambati Rayudu kept the scoreboard ticking at one end with a 58-run knock in 62 balls. Ravindra Jadeja finished the innings with an unbeaten 52 off 49 balls to help India finish on 245/8. Pakistan were cruising in the chase thanks to a 71-run opening stand in only 11 overs. However, the introduction of the spinners started to pull India back into the game. Mohammad Hafeez anchored the chase with 75 off 130 balls as Pakistan needed 46 more runs heading into the 44th over.

Things changed dramatically for Pakistan after Hafeez got out in the 44th over at the score of 200/5. Ravichandran Ashwin was given the responsibility to defend ten runs in the final over and cleaned up Saeed Ajmal with a carom ball first up. Junaid Khan managed to get Shahid Afridi on strike with a single. Afridi moved across to clear the fence over the covers region on the 3rd ball and finished off the game with another big hit over long-on to win it for his team in style.