1983 - Asia comes together
The Asia Cup was conceived in 1983 with the creation of the Asian Cricket Council. It was housed in Sharjah and that's where the first tournament was held. Called the Rothmans Asia Cup, the tournament featured India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a round-robin format. India won both their matches - by 10 wickets against Sri Lanka and by 54 runs against Pakistan to emerge as champions. Sri Lanka was second with a win over Pakistan.
1986 - Bangladesh enters the fray
The second edition called the John Player Gold Leaf Trophy was held in Sri Lanka. India did not travel to defend their title because of a controversial bilateral series with the hosts a year before. Bangladesh made their debut in the championship. The hosts beat Pakistan to lift the trophy.
1988 - The Cup travels to Bangladesh
Two years later, Bangladesh hosted the Wills Asia Cup. They, however, did not win any games and Sri Lanka faced India in the finals. India rode on a brilliant 76 by Navjot Singh Sindhu to lift the trophy with ease. He had already hit two fifties prior to the final and the effort earned him the Man of the Series award.
1990-91 - India's third title
The Asia Cup traveled to India for the first time. This time Pakistan pulled out of the tournament and Bangladesh yet again proved no match for the sub-continental seniors. India again beat Sri Lanka in the final to lift the trophy for the third time.
1995 - Back in Sharjah
The fifth edition that was scheduled to be held in 1993 was cancelled due to political tensions. The tournament was finally played in Sharjah in 1995, 11 years after the first edition was hosted there. After the round-robin matches, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were tied on points. India and Sri Lanka made it to the finals on better run rate and for the third successive time India beat the Island nation in the final. This win took India's overall win tally to four, the most for the Asia Cup.
1997 - Sri Lanka exact revenge
Sri Lanka beat India by eight wickets at home in the 1997 Pepsi Asia Cup to exact revenge. The Sri Lankans had won the World Cup a year before and they displayed their prowess against Pakistan, India and Bangladesh to make it a memorable year for them with three ODI titles. Arjuna Ranatunga and Sanath Jayasuriya were the stars for the hosts with memorable tons in the tournament.
2000 - Pakistan's maiden title
Pakistan put on a fantastic display to remain unbeaten in the tournament and lift their first Asia Cup trophy in Bangladesh. India had an indifferent tournament and their lone win came against the hosts. Pakistan met Sri Lanka in the final under lights at Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium and won by 39 runs. Their biggest victory of the tournament was the 223-run win over Bangladesh.
2004 - Hong Kong & UAE join
Other Asian cricketing nations like Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates featured in the Asia Cup for the first time. The tournament was held in Sri Lanka and the hosts yet again beat India in the finals to win the trophy for the second time. Pakistan started well but crashed out due to an error in net run rate calculation. And Bangladesh beat Hong Kong by 116 runs to register their first win in the Asia Cup.
