Ahead of fierce rivals India and Pakistan facing off in the first of potentially three matches at the
Unimoni Asia Cup 2018, we at OSN Sports thought it would be worth taking a look at the two nations’ rich rivalry at the tournament.
Taking into account the 12 previous editions of the 50-over format – we’ve left alone 2016’s T20 edition that India would go on to win – we’ve trawled through the stats to look at the history of the fixture.
In total, the two sides have met 11 times in 50-over Asia Cup competition. With five wins apiece, the no-result of 1997 is the only thing to split the two teams. And, despite the respective illustrious cricketing histories of both sides, they are yet to meet in an Asia Cup final.
All that could change this year and they are clear favourites to meet at Dubai International Stadium’s showpiece on
September 28 – also live & exclusive on OSN Sports Cricket HD – but history shows that it is far from set in stone.
Here, is a little look back at that history…
1984 Asia Cup
The first-ever Asia Cup was held by the then burgeoning Asia Cricket Council in the UAE emirate of Sharjah across seven days from April 6-13 in 1984. A round-robin tournament, India and Pakistan were joined by Sri Lanka in competing for the inaugural trophy.
India would go on to become the first cricketing champions of their continent, beating both Sri Lanka and then Pakistan as Surinder Khanna starred with the bat, registering consecutive half centuries. Ravi Shastri was also the star with the ball against Pakistan, taking 3-40.
1988 Wills Asia Cup
Four years later, the Asia Cup headed to Bangladesh who were then an Associate Member of the ICC and still 12 years away from full membership.
India – who sat out the 1986 edition due to political strains with Sri Lanka – would once again see off Pakistan en route to victory. A four-wicket win over their neighbours – thanks to Mohinder Amarnath’s unbeaten 74 – set them up for a final with Sri Lanka that they would go on to win.
1995 Pepsi Asia Cup
Pakistan – having sat out India’s 1990-91 glory due to tense Indo-Pak relations – would register their first Asia Cup win over their rivals in the group stage but it would prove in vain as India would defeat Sri Lanka in the final for a third consecutive Asia Cup triumph.
Inzaman-ul-Haq’s 88 in Pakistan’s 266-9 and then Aaqib Javed’s 5-19 in bowling India out for 169 would set up a famous 97-run win in Sharjah but Pakistan would end up not getting out of the group stage and having to watch on as India lifted the trophy once again.
1997 Pepsi Asia Cup
The only fixture between the two to have not harboured a result, the teams would twice try and get a match underway only for Sri Lankan weather to intervene.
The first attempt saw Pakistan slump to 30-5 after nine overs before rain and bad light brought an end to proceedings while their attempt at replaying the match the following day was abruptly ended without a ball being bowled.
2000 Pepsi Asia Cup
A memorable tournament for Pakistan and its fans, the country would not only beat India by 44-runs in the groups but they would also go on to win their first ever Asia Cup trophy. Man of the Series Mohammad Yousuf would hit a century in Pakistan’s win over India, a match Abdul Razzaq also took 4-29 in.
India would then meet Sri Lanka in the final, securing a 39-run win in Dhaka on the back of Saeed Anwar’s 82 and Arshad Khan taking 2-42, despite Marvan Atapattu’s superb hundred for Sri Lanka who were once again defeated finalists.
2004 Indian Oil Asia Cup
For the first-time in Asia Cup history, the 2004 edition in Sri Lanka was a grander affair with the addition of Associate Members Hong Kong and UAE making for two groups and a Super Fours stage of the competition.
Pakistan would blow India away in the Super Fours with Shoaib Malik’s 143 underpinning an historic victory that even India legend Sachin Tendulkar (78) could not prevent. Sealing two bonus points, however, would see India take on the hosts in the final but it would be Sri Lanka that prevailed, sealing their third title.
2008 STAR Cricket Asia Cup
Held across Karachi and Lahore, hosts Pakistan wouldn’t manage to secure overall victory on home turf as Sri Lanka went on to defend their crown, beating India in the final.
However, Karachi was lit up by two India vs Pakistan matches with India’s six-wicket group stage win (this time Malik’s 125 would be countered by Virender Sehwag’s 119 in a successful run-chase) followed up by Pakistan’s eight-wicket revenge in the Super Fours thanks to Younis Khan’s unbeaten 123 that saw the hosts chase down a target of 309 for just two wickets and with 4.3 overs to spare.
2010 Micromax Asia Cup
Returning to its one group round-robin, top-two final format, the 2010 Asia Cup saw India register a record fifth victory and their first since 1995 as Sri Lanka were denied a third-straight trophy in the final.
Pakistan would finish third with just the solitary win over Bangladesh and having been beaten by India by three-wickets and with just a ball to spare in a thrilling group game.
2012 Micromax Asia Cup
For the first-time in history, India would fail to make it out of the groups in 2012 but not before they despatched Pakistan by six-wickets in a high-scoring affair. Virat Kohli would be the star of the show, hitting 183 from just 148 balls as India chased down Pakistan’s total of 329-6 with 13 balls remaining.
The setback would be slight for Pakistan who would go on to claim a second Asia Cup trophy with a nail biting two-run win over Bangladesh in the final that went to the very last ball. It is easily one of the most memorable and thrilling finals in Asia Cup history.
2014 Arise Asia Cup
India would once again fall short in 2014, finishing a whole four points behind Pakistan in second-place of the group stage and eight points off table-toppers Sri Lanka. Adding insult to injury, Pakistan would deliver the knockout blow to their rivals with a tense one-wicket win secured with just two balls remaining.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, they would lose the final in Mirpur to Sri Lanka who were dominant in victory from the tournament’s start to finish and won all five of their matches.
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