The 14th edition of the Asia Cup, featuring Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will begin in the United Arab Emirates on September 15.

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The inaugural edition of the tournament, now entering its 14th chapter, was hosted in the same part of the world 34 years ago.

History of the Asia Cup

The Asia Cup was started by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to promote the game and expand goodwill among Asian nations. Former BCCI president, NKP Salve, was elected as the first chairman of the ACC in 1983.  He helped organise the first edition of the tournament the following year – a pivotal step in the rise and spread of Asian cricket.

The Asia Cup is now a biennial tournament under the purview of the ACC, which is now contested between the five full members of the region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and a qualifier. This time, it’s Hong Kong, who got past the other contenders to book their berth after a qualifying tournament.

The champions down the years

1984: India

The 1984 edition of the tournament was hosted in Sharjah with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the participating nations.

It was a robin-round tournament, which consisted of three 50-over games, where each country played the other once. India beat both their opponents, thus winning the inaugural Asia Cup. India wicket-keeper-batsman Surinder Khanna hit two half-centuries to score 107 runs in two low-scoring games to clinch the Player of the Tournament award.

1986: Sri Lanka

The 1986 competition was contested between Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh after India withdrew from the tournament citing political tensions with the host nation, Sri Lanka.

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AfghanistanHong KongIndiaPakistanSri LankaBangladesh Asia CupInternational Cricket