NEW DELHI: The Asia Cup, which kicks off on September 9 in the UAE, will be played in the T20 format. Since the last edition was a 50-over affair, you might be wondering why the tournament is being held in the shortest format this time.
Since its inception in 1984, the tournament underwent a major change in 2016 when it was staged as a T20 International (T20I) competition for the first time.
For three decades after its launch in 1984, the Asia Cup stayed true to its original one-day format. Across those 12 editions, India and Sri Lanka shared the honours with five titles each, while Pakistan won twice. The 2014 event in Bangladesh added a new chapter with Afghanistan making their debut, though it ended with Sri Lanka once again lifting the trophy after a five-wicket win over Pakistan.
The following year marked a turning point. With the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) restructured under the watch of the International Cricket Council (ICC), most of its developmental authority shifted away. But the ACC retained one prized responsibility - hosting the Asia Cup. Along with that came a bold change: the tournament would now rotate between ODIs and T20Is, depending on the calendar of ICC global events.
That decision came to life in 2016, when Bangladesh hosted the first-ever T20I edition to sync with the T20 World Cup. Five teams - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE - took part, though Afghanistan sat out. The final in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Stadium turned into a one-sided affair, with MS Dhoni's India sweeping past the spirited hosts by eight wickets. It was India's sixth Asia Cup triumph, and the first of its kind in the shortest format.
The move proved more than just an experiment. By embracing the T20 format in 2016, the Asia Cup set a precedent that has shaped its modern identity. It returned as a T20 event in 2022, and the upcoming 2025 edition will serve as key preparation for the teams ahead of next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
