The Asia Cup 2023 was held in ODI format to provide the Asian teams a preparatory platform for the World Cup. However, the 2025 edition of the tournament will return to T20 format. But, why is it so?
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will turn the Asia Cup 2025 in T20 format in order to prepare teams for the 2026 T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March 2026.
Notably, whichever World Cup is being held that year or coming year, the Asia Cup is turned into the same format.
History & Format of Asia Cup
The Asia Cup started in 1984 in the ODI format but changed after the inception of T20s. The last T20I Asia Cup was held in 2022, the same year the last T20 World Cup was held.
While earlier, the purpose for Asia Cup was to bring all top Asian teams together, it now has turned into a World Cup preparatory event. The ACC organises the Asia Cup the same year when the World Cup takes place.
Asia Cup winners list
| Year | Winner | Runner Up | Hosting Nation |
| 1984 | India | Sri Lanka | UAE |
| 1986 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| 1988 | India | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh |
| 1991 | India | Sri Lanka | India |
| 1995 | India | Sri Lanka | UAE |
| 1997 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2000 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh |
| 2004 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2008 | Sri Lanka | India | Pakistan |
| 2010 | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| 2012 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Bangladesh |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Bangladesh |
| 2016 | India | Bangladesh | Bangladesh |
| 2018 | India | Bangladesh | UAE |
| 2022 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | UAE |
| 2023 | India | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka and Pakistan |
Team India is the most successful team in the tournament with 8 titles followed by Sri Lanka who have won the tournament 6 times.
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