Has Pakistan ever won Asia Cup?
The Asia Cup is a highly respected cricket tournament that brings together the top teams from the Asia continent. Since Asia Cup beginning in 1984, the event has been a stage for intense competition and memorable moments.
Many cricket fans wonder about how many time Pakistan ever won Asia Cup in history.
The answer is yes. Pakistan has won the Asia Cup, but they are not the most successful team. Among the three major cricketing nations of Asia India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan the “Men in Green” have lifted the Asia Cup trophy two times. This places them third on the list of asia cup champions, behind India and Sri Lanka.
Also Check: Asia Cup Schedule With Venue
How Many Times Pakistan have Won the Cricket Asia cup – Pakistan’s Asia Cup Journey
Below is a detailed look at Pakistan’s performance in each Asia Cup edition, with key moments, captains, and standout players.
1984 Asia Cup (Sharjah, UAE) | Captain: Zaheer Abbas
The inaugural Asia Cup featured a round-robin format with India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Pakistan struggled, losing to Sri Lanka by 5 wickets and India by 54 runs. Zaheer Abbas led with 74 runs, but Pakistan finished last without a win, marking an early disappointment.
1986 Asia Cup (Sri Lanka) | Captain: Imran Khan
Pakistan improved, defeating Sri Lanka by 81 runs and Bangladesh by 7 wickets to reach the final. However, Sri Lanka thrashed them by 5 wickets. Javed Miandad (91 runs) and Abdul Qadir (9 wickets) were standout performers, but the title eluded Pakistan.
1988 Asia Cup (Bangladesh) | Captain: Javed Miandad
Under Javed Miandad, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 173 runs but lost to Sri Lanka by 5 wickets and India by 4 wickets, missing the final. Ijaz Ahmed topped with 192 runs, and Abdul Qadir took 6 wickets, yet Pakistan’s campaign faltered.
1990-91 Asia Cup (India) | Captain: None
Pakistan boycotted due to strained India-Pakistan relations, missing the tournament entirely. India won, defeating Sri Lanka.
1995 Asia Cup (Sharjah, UAE) | Captain: Moin Khan
Moin Khan’s team started strong, defeating India by 97 runs and Bangladesh by 6 wickets but lost to Sri Lanka by 5 wickets.
Tied at 4 points with three teams, Pakistan’s poor net run rate kept them from the final. Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 190 runs, and Aaqib Javed took 5 wickets.
1997 Asia Cup (Sri Lanka) | Captain: Ramiz Raja
Led by Ramiz Raja, Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka by 15 runs and beat Bangladesh by 105 runs.
Rain abandoned their India match, ending their campaign without a final berth. Saqlain Mushtaq claimed 6 wickets, and Salim Malik scored 129 runs.
2000 Asia Cup (Bangladesh) | Captain: Moin Khan
Pakistan’s first Asia Cup triumph came under Moin Khan. They dominated the group stage, crushing Bangladesh by 233 runs, India by 44 runs, and Sri Lanka by 7 wickets.
In the final, Pakistan defended 277 to beat Sri Lanka by 39 runs. Mohammad Yousuf (295 runs, including an unbeaten 100 vs. India) earned Player of the Tournament, while Abdul Razzaq took 8 wickets.
2004 Asia Cup (Sri Lanka) | Captain: Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam-ul-Haq’s side topped Group A, defeating Bangladesh by 116 runs and Hong Kong by 173 runs.
In the Super Four, they beat India by 59 runs and Bangladesh by 6 wickets but lost to Sri Lanka by 7 wickets.
Despite a better net run rate, Pakistan missed the final due to no bonus points. Shoaib Malik led with 316 runs.
2008 Asia Cup (Pakistan) | Captain: Shoaib Malik
Hosting for the first time, Pakistan, under Shoaib Malik, beat Hong Kong by 155 runs but lost to India by 6 wickets in the group stage.
In the Super Four, they lost to Sri Lanka by 64 runs but defeated India by 8 wickets and Bangladesh by 10 wickets.
They missed the final due to point carryover issues. Sohail Tanvir took 10 wickets.
2010 Asia Cup (Sri Lanka) | Captain: Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi’s team lost to Sri Lanka by 16 runs and India by 3 wickets but beat Bangladesh with a bonus point.
One win wasn’t enough for the final. Afridi, with 205 runs, was Player of the Tournament.
2012 Asia Cup (Bangladesh) | Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakistan’s second title came under Misbah-ul-Haq. They beat Bangladesh by 21 runs and Sri Lanka by 6 wickets but lost to India despite posting 329, thanks to Virat Kohli’s 183.
A superior net run rate secured their final spot, where they edged Bangladesh by 2 runs defending 236. Mohammad Hafeez scored 245 runs, and Umar Gul took 3 wickets in the final.
2014 Asia Cup (Bangladesh, ODI) | Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq
Misbah’s team lost to Sri Lanka by 12 runs but beat Afghanistan by 72 runs and India by 1 wicket, thanks to Shahid Afridi’s heroics.
A 327-run chase against Bangladesh secured a final spot, but Sri Lanka chased 261 to win. Umar Akmal scored 253 runs, and Saeed Ajmal took 11 wickets, tying for the tournament’s best.
2014 Asia Cup (Bangladesh, T20I) | Captain: Shahid Afridi
In the first T20I Asia Cup, Pakistan lost to India by 5 wickets and Bangladesh by 5 wickets but beat UAE by 7 wickets and Sri Lanka by 6 wickets. They missed the final. Mohammad Amir led with 7 wickets.
2018 Asia Cup (UAE) | Captain: Sarfaraz Ahmed
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side beat Hong Kong by 8 wickets but lost to India by 8 wickets.
In the Super Four, they defeated Afghanistan by 3 wickets but fell to India by 9 wickets and Bangladesh by 37 runs, exiting early. Imam-ul-Haq scored 225 runs.
2022 Asia Cup (UAE, T20I) | Captain: Babar Azam
Under Babar Azam, Pakistan lost to India by 5 wickets but crushed Hong Kong by 155 runs. In the Super Four, they avenged India with a 5-wicket win and beat Afghanistan by 1 wicket.
After losing to Sri Lanka, they reached the final but fell 23 runs short chasing 171. Mohammad Rizwan led all teams with 281 runs; Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf each took 8 wickets.
2023 Asia Cup (Sri Lanka/Pakistan) | Captain: Babar Azam
Pakistan co-hosted but exited in the Super Four after losses to India by 228 runs and Sri Lanka by 2 wickets (DLS method).
They beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets and Hong Kong by a large margin. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman shone with the bat, but the team couldn’t reach the final, won by India.
Who Are Pakistan’s Top Performers in Asia Cup History?
Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaigns boast stellar individual contributions. Here are key statistics:
Most Matches for Pakistan in Asia Cup (ODI)
| Player | Span | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Shahid Afridi | 1997-2014 | 23 |
| Shoaib Malik | 2000-2018 | 17 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | 1995-2004 | 15 |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | 2008-2014 | 14 |
| Mohammad Yousuf | 2000-2008 | 14 |
Most Runs for Pakistan in Asia Cup (ODI)
| Player | Runs | Average | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoaib Malik | 786 | 65.50 | 143 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | 591 | 59.10 | 88 |
| Younis Khan | 546 | 49.63 | 144 |
| Shahid Afridi | 532 | 35.46 | 124 |
| Umar Akmal | 510 | 51.00 | 102* |
Most Wickets for Pakistan in Asia Cup (ODI)
| Player | Wickets | Average | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saeed Ajmal | 25 | 19.40 | 3/26 |
| Abdul Qadir | 17 | 14.76 | 3/15 |
| Wasim Akram | 16 | 18.56 | 4/19 |
| Abdul Razzaq | 16 | 20.18 | 4/29 |
| Umar Gul | 14 | 35.35 | 3/58 |
These stats highlight Pakistan’s reliance on all-rounders like Shoaib Malik and bowlers like Saeed Ajmal.
What Are Pakistan’s Asia Cup Wins in Detail?
First Triumph: 2000 Asia Cup (Bangladesh)
Captain: Moin Khan
Key Performers: Mohammad Yousuf (295 runs, Player of the Tournament), Abdul Razzaq (8 wickets)
Path to Victory: Pakistan swept the group stage, defeating Bangladesh (233 runs), India (44 runs), and Sri Lanka (7 wickets). In the final, they defended 277 to win by 39 runs against Sri Lanka.
Second Victory: 2012 Asia Cup (Bangladesh)
Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq
Key Performers: Mohammad Hafeez (245 runs), Umar Gul (3 wickets in final)
Path to Victory: Pakistan beat Bangladesh (21 runs) and Sri Lanka (6 wickets) but lost to India. Their net run rate secured a final spot, where they defended 236 to win by 2 runs against Bangladesh.
Significance: A thrilling final at Mirpur showcased Pakistan’s nerve, with Aizaz Cheema’s 3/46 pivotal.
Why Has Pakistan Underachieved in the Asia Cup?
Despite their two titles, Pakistan’s record of 2 wins in 15 appearances is modest for a team of their caliber. Factors include:
Inconsistent Performances: Losses to stronger teams like India and Sri Lanka in crucial stages, as seen in 1984, 1986, and 2018.
Political Absences: Missing the 1990-91 edition due to tensions with India.
Net Run Rate Issues: In 1995 and 2004, Pakistan missed finals despite competitive showings due to inferior net run rates.
Middle-Order Collapses: The 2022 final loss to Sri Lanka highlighted batting frailties under pressure.
What Are Pakistan’s Prospects for Asia Cup 2025?
The Asia Cup 2025, set for September 9-28 in the UAE, features eight teams in T20 format. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, faces India, Oman, and UAE in Group A. Key fixtures include:
- Pakistan vs Oman: September 13, Abu Dhabi
- Pakistan vs India: September 14, Dubai
- Pakistan vs UAE: September 16, Dubai
How Many Times Has Pakistan Won the Asia Cup?
Pakistan has won twice, in 2000 and 2012, both in Bangladesh.
Who Was Pakistan’s Top Scorer in Asia Cup History?
Shoaib Malik, with 786 runs at an average of 65.50.
When Did Pakistan Last Reach the Asia Cup Final?
In 2022, losing to Sri Lanka by 23 runs in the T20I format.
