Statistical overview of the Asia Cup

The Asia Cup, which was founded by Asian Cricket Council to bring in the Asian countries closer will now be played for the first time in the shortest format, Twenty20. The tournament was first played in 1984 and was scheduled to be played every 2 years. However, due to various political and other relations, only 12 editions have been successfully completed in ODI format.

Due to declining of the ACC, the Council have decided to play the tournament in 50-over format as well as in the 20-over format on a rotation basis. With India set to host the World T20 2016, it decided to begin the T20 format of Asia Cup from this year with Bangladesh hosting the tournament. Here we look at the numbers from the previous editions of this multi-nation event:

3 – Number of 5-wicket hauls have been taken by Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga is the most by any bowler.

4 – Number of 4-wicket hauls taken by Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis is the most by any bowler. 2 out of those 4 turned out to be 5-wicket hauls.

5 – Sri Lanka and India have won the title five times each. Pakistan was successful in the remaining 2 editions.

6 – Centuries hit by Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya is the most by any batsman.

6/13 – Bowling figures of 8-1-13-6 by Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis against India in the final of the 2008 edition at Karachi are the best bowling figures and the only 6-wicket haul recorded in the tourney.

7 – Number of Asian teams featured. 4 of them are Test playing nations while other 3 are Associate nations.

11 – Number of times Sri Lanka has made it to the final, the most by any other team. Excluding in 2012, they have played the final in all the editions.

12 – Number of fifty plus scored recorded by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara is the most by any batsman. 4 out of the 12 turned out to be centuries.

13 – Number of matches hosted by Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. It is the most by any venue. Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka has hosted 12 matches.

13 – Number of matches Arjuna Ranatunga and MS Dhoni led their respective sides in Asia Cup, the joint most by a captain. Interestingly, both won 9 matches as captain and lost 4.

15 – Number of catches Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene has taken, it is the most by any player.

28 – Number of matches Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene has played in the tournament, the most by any other player.

30 – Wickets taken by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan is the most by any bowler.

33 – Number of matches Bangladesh has lost, the most by any team.

34 – Number of matches Sri Lanka has won in Asia Cup, the most by any team.

36 – Number of dismissals effected by Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka is the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper. He has 27 catches and made 9 stumpings, which are also the record in this tournament.

48 – Number of matches played Sri Lanka in the tournament, the most by any other team.

87 – Bangladesh’s 87/10 against Pakistan in 2000 at Dhaka is the lowest team total.

90 – Total number of matches played in Asia Cup. Only 1 match ended without producing a result.

183 – 183-run knock by India’s Virat Kohli against Pakistan in 2012 at Dhaka is the highest individual score in Asia Cup.

256 – India’s 256 run win against Hong Kong at Karachi in 2008 is the highest winning margin.

385/7 – Pakistan’s 385/7 against Bangladesh in 2010 at Dambulla is the highest team total in the history of the tourney.

1220 – Runs scored by Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya is the record for most runs scored by a batsman.