Asia Cup 2023: Insights, Past Champions, and Winner Predictions, Free Telecast
The highly awaited Asia Cup 2023 is off to an impressive start, with Pakistan securing a commanding victory of 238 runs against Nepal. Babar Azam and Shadab Khan particularly shone in the opening match, setting high expectations for this year’s tournament.
This time around, defending champions Sri Lanka are facing a strong challenge from India and Pakistan, all geared up to give them a tough competition. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal are striving to make it to the Super 4 stage.
As we delve into the season, we’ll look into expert insights provided by GrabOn, make predictions for the winners, revisit previous champions, explore the tournament’s history, analyze team line-ups, and provide comprehensive details about the Asia Cup 2023.
Asia Cup – A Quick Look Through History
The Asia Cup started in 1984 and quickly grew into a major event in international cricket. The first tournament was hosted by the UAE, and India emerged as the winner. Over time, the Asia Cup’s popularity expanded beyond Asia, captivating cricket fans worldwide.
In 2022, the tournament returned to the UAE. The final match in Dubai between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was a nail-biter. Sri Lanka clinched the victory by a mere 23 runs, sealing their championship.
Roll of Honour: Past WinnersÂ
List Of Past WinnersÂ
| Year | Format | Host | Winner | Runner-up | Match Result |
| 2023 | ODI | Pakistan/Sri Lanka | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2022 | T20 | UAE | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka won by 23 runs |
| 2018 | ODI | UAE | India | Bangladesh | India won by 3 wickets |
| 2016 | T20 | Bangladesh | India | Bangladesh | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2014 | ODI | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets |
| 2012 | ODI | Bangladesh | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Pakistan won by 2 runs |
| 2010 | ODI | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka | India won by 81 runs |
| 2008 | ODI | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka won by 100 runs |
| 2004 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka won by 25 runs |
| 2000 | ODI | Bangladesh | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Pakistan won by 39 runs |
| 1997 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| 1995 | ODI | UAE | India | Sri Lanka | India won by 8 wickets |
| 1990-91 | ODI | India | India | Sri Lanka | India won by 7 wickets |
| 1988 | ODI | Bangladesh | India | Sri Lanka | India won by 6 wickets |
| 1986 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets |
| 1984 | ODI | UAE | India | Sri Lanka | Group Stage Winner |
Strong Contenders in the Asia Cup
Teams like India have been dominant in the Asia Cup, securing the title seven times. India emerged victorious in 1984, 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 2010, 2016, and 2018. Sri Lanka is a close second with six titles, while Pakistan tasted victory in 2000 and 2012.
When it comes to hosting duties, Bangladesh has taken up the mantle five times. The UAE hosted the event four times, most recently in 2022. India hosted once in 1990-91, coinciding with their victory. In 2023, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will host the tournament, aiming to match Bangladesh’s hosting record.
Return to the Classic 50-Over Format
The Asia Cup 2023 marks the return to the classic 50-over One Day International (ODI) format. The last time this format was seen was in the 2018 Asia Cup, which featured an intense final between India and Bangladesh.
The revival of the 50-over format adds more thrill to the tournament, requiring teams to plan and play in extended matches.
Teams, and Recent Form
This year, six strong teams are competing in the Asia Cup 2023: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. The tournament starts with group stages, involving two groups, each comprising three teams. These teams play against each other in a round-robin style. The top two teams from each group will move on to the Super 4 stage, and the top two teams will face off in the finals.
In Group A, we have India, Nepal, and Pakistan in a battle, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. A much-anticipated match is the showdown between traditional rivals India and Pakistan on September 2. If these teams make it to the Super Fours, we might witness an exciting rematch in the final.
Team Insight and Current Performance
The Asia Cup 2023 line-up showcases six formidable teams: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Let’s take a closer look at how these teams have been performing recently:
India: Ranked third in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, India has shown their strength with recent wins against West Indies, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. They’ve secured victories in 9 out of 12 matches this year.
Pakistan: At the top of the rankings and reigning champions, Pakistan has proven their mettle with wins against New Zealand. Despite a series loss to New Zealand, they’ve rebounded impressively, claiming victory in 5 out of 8 ODIs against them.
Sri Lanka: Hosting the tournament, Sri Lanka boasts an impressive unbeaten streak of 10 matches. They’ve performed well in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier event. Their performance in series against India and New Zealand this year has been mixed.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh has showcased their prowess with wins against India and England on their home turf. However, a recent loss to Afghanistan has raised questions about their consistency.
Afghanistan: Known for their ability to upset strong opponents, Afghanistan has secured a series victory against Bangladesh and even defeated Sri Lanka in the opening match of a series. Despite fewer matches this year, they’re ready to leave a mark.
Nepal: In ODIs, Nepal has performed admirably, clinching victories in 15 out of 20 matches. Their qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier highlights their progress.
Exciting Schedule Ahead
The Asia Cup 2023 schedule is packed with thrilling matches. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store:
- August 30: Pakistan vs Nepal, Multan – 3:30 PM IST
- August 31: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele – 1:00 PM IST
- September 2: Pakistan vs India, Pallekele – 1:00 PM IST
- September 3: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Lahore – 1:30 PM IST
- September 4: India vs Nepal, Pallekele – 1:00 PM IST
- September 5: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore – 3:30 PM IST
- September 6: A1 vs B2, Lahore – 3:30 PM IST
- September 9: B1 vs B2, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 10: A1 vs A2, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 12: A2 vs B1, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 14: A1 vs B1, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 15: A2 vs B2, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
- September 17: To Be Confirmed (TBC) vs TBC, Colombo – 2:00 PM IST
Meet the Squads
Here are the squads for the participating teams in Asia Cup 2023:
- India
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Travelling reserve: Sanju Samson
- Pakistan
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel
Travelling reserve: Tayyab Tahir
- Afghanistan
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
- Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan SakibÂ
- Sri Lanka
Dunith Wellalage (c), Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Minod Bhanuka, Avishka Fernando, Lasith Croospulle, Sahan Arachchige, Ashen Bandara, Lahiru Udara, Janith Liyanage, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Samarakoon, Isitha Wijesundera, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemantha.
- Nepal Squad
Rohit Paudel (Captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud (Wicket-keeper), Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee (vc), Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC.
Predictions and Outlook – India, Pakistan?Â
As we look ahead to Asia Cup 2023, the competition seems to be primarily between India and Pakistan. Here’s a closer look:
India: Ranked third in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, India boasts strong players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leading their batting lineup. Their bowling also features talents like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. With seven previous Asia Cup titles, India’s absence from the final last time has only fueled their determination. The return of key players further bolsters their squad.
Pakistan: Sitting at the top of the rankings and being the reigning champions, Pakistan showcases a balanced team with Babar Azam at the helm. Their bowling is anchored by Shaheen Afridi, and their batting is powered by Babar Azam. This year, Pakistan’s performance has been solid, with 19 wins out of 28 matches.
In the end, the true excitement lies in the matches themselves and the unexpected twists they might bring. Let’s eagerly await the thrilling encounters of Asia Cup 2023 to find out which team will emerge as the ultimate champion!