Asia Cup: Here’s The Full List Of Player Of The Tournament Till Date

The 17th edition of the Asia Cup is set to enthrall cricket fans once again — this time in the shortest format. From India’s dominance to Sri Lanka’s resurgence, and rising challengers like UAE and Oman, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the tournament.

Asia Cup 2025: Key Dates & Overview

The Asia Cup 2025 will kick off on September 9 and conclude on September 28, spanning 20 action-packed days in the United Arab Emirates. As the third Asia Cup to be played in the T20I format, the 2025 edition promises explosive cricket, new rivalries, and a massive opportunity for emerging Asian nations to test their mettle against the best.

Venues:
- Dubai International Cricket Stadium – 11 matches (Capacity: 25,000)
- Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – 8 matches (Capacity: 20,000)

This marks the largest Asia Cup ever, with eight participating teams and a revised tournament structure aimed at increasing competitiveness and viewership across the Asian continent.

Format: Expanded 8-Team Showdown with Super Four Twist

Asia Cup 2025 brings a fresh look and feel, expanding from the traditional six-team format to include eight nations:

🧾 Group Division:

Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE (hosts), Oman
Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong

Each team will face off in round-robin group matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. This round will again follow a round-robin format, and the top two Super Four teams will qualify for the grand final on September 28.

📣 This format ensures every match is crucial, with underdogs like Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman capable of causing upsets — just like Nepal nearly did in Asia Cup 2023.

Neutral Venue: UAE Returns as Trusted Host

The UAE has once again been chosen as a neutral host due to security concerns in original host nations. With experience hosting major tournaments like the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and previous Asia Cups, the UAE offers world-class facilities, favorable weather, and large cricket-loving diasporas from all participating nations.

Qualified Teams: Who Made the Cut?

✅ Automatically Qualified Full Members:
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Afghanistan
✅ Via 2024 ACC Premier Cup:
- UAE (hosts)
- Oman
- Hong Kong

This expanded pool brings fresh narratives and an opportunity for Associate Nations to challenge Asia’s traditional cricketing elite.

Flashback: T20I Asia Cup Editions So Far

The Asia Cup has traditionally been a One Day International (ODI) tournament, but the T20I format debuted in 2016 to align with the ICC T20 World Cup cycle. Let’s look back at the previous editions:

2016 Asia Cup – India Reign Supreme in Bangladesh

Winner: India
Runner-up: Bangladesh
Venue: Bangladesh
Final: India beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets
Player of the Match (Final): Shikhar Dhawan (60 runs)
Player of the Tournament: Sabbir Rahman (176 runs)

Led by MS Dhoni, India stamped their authority in the inaugural T20I edition with a dominant campaign. In the final, Dhawan’s strokeplay and Rohit Sharma’s calm finishing saw India chase down 120 with ease.

Sabbir Rahman was the standout player for Bangladesh, showcasing consistency across multiple games. His fluent 80 against Sri Lanka remains one of the finest knocks in Asia Cup history.

2022 Asia Cup – Sri Lanka’s Fairytale Comeback

Winner: Sri Lanka
Runner-up: Pakistan
Venue: UAE
Final: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs
Player of the Match (Final): Bhanuka Rajapaksa (71*)
Player of the Tournament: Wanindu Hasaranga (66 runs & 9 wickets)

Written off before the tournament, Sri Lanka rose like a phoenix, led by the brilliance of Rajapaksa, Nissanka, and Hasaranga. Their victory over Pakistan in the final, defending 170, marked a return to glory.

Hasaranga’s all-round brilliance — wicket-taking consistency and clutch lower-order runs — earned him the Player of the Tournament title and global recognition.

Complete List of Asia Cup – Player of the Tournament Winners

Year	Format	Player (Team)	Performance
1984	ODI	Surinder Khanna (India)	107 runs
1986	ODI	Arjuna Ranatunga (SL)	105 runs & 4 wickets
1988	ODI	Navjot Sidhu (India)	179 runs
1990/91	ODI	–	–
1995	ODI	Navjot Sidhu (India)	197 runs
1997	ODI	Arjuna Ranatunga (SL)	272 runs
2000	ODI	Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan)	295 runs
2004	ODI	Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)	293 runs & 4 wickets
2008	ODI	Ajantha Mendis (SL)	17 wickets
2010	ODI	Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)	265 runs & 3 wickets
2012	ODI	Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)	237 runs & 6 wickets
2014	ODI	Lahiru Thirimanne (SL)	279 runs
2016	T20I	Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh)	176 runs
2018	ODI	Shikhar Dhawan (India)	342 runs
2022	T20I	Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)	66 runs & 9 wickets
2023	ODI	Kuldeep Yadav (India)	9 wickets

This list showcases a wide variety of talents — from power-hitters to crafty spinners — who shaped their teams’ fortunes and earned the ultimate individual accolade in the Asia Cup.

Players Who Lit Up the T20I Editions

Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh) – Player of the Tournament, 2016

Sabbir was a revelation in the 2016 T20I Asia Cup. In five matches:

🏏 176 runs
🧠 Avg: 44.00 | SR: 123.94
🏆 Notable knock: 80 off 54 vs Sri Lanka

Even though Bangladesh lost in the final, Sabbir’s fearless batting against top sides earned him admiration as the tournament’s most consistent performer.

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) – Player of the Tournament, 2022

Hasaranga’s campaign was nothing short of a masterclass in T20 all-round excellence:

🏏 66 crucial runs (including a cameo in the final)
🥎 9 wickets, including 3/21 vs Pakistan in Super Four
🔥 Economical spells, attacking mindset, and match-winning ability

He became the first Sri Lankan spinner to win the award and the poster boy of Sri Lanka’s T20I resurgence.

Asia Cup 2025: What’s at Stake?

The Asia Cup has historically been a mini World Cup for Asian nations — the prestige, pressure, and patriotism are unmatched. But 2025 adds new dimensions:

1. World Cup Preparation

With the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup on the horizon, this tournament will act as a launchpad for testing team combinations, strategies, and players under high pressure.

2. Global Eyes on Associate Nations

UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong are no longer just fillers. They have:

✅ Quality spin attacks
✅ Big-hitting batters
✅ Match experience in ICC events

Expect surprises — especially under UAE conditions where spinners thrive.

3. Race for Regional Supremacy

India eye their 9th title
Sri Lanka are peaking at the right time
Pakistan want to end their T20 title drought
Afghanistan are a dark horse with world-class spinners
Bangladesh are looking for redemption and depth

Team Asia Cup Titles – A Quick Glance

Team	Titles	Runners-up
🇮🇳 India	8	3
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	6	6
🇵🇰 Pakistan	2	3
🇧🇩 Bangladesh	0	3
🇦🇫 Afghanistan	0	0

India leads the pack, but Sri Lanka’s six titles and strong T20 form make them formidable contenders. Pakistan’s last Asia Cup title came in 2012, and they’ll be hungry to break that drought.

The Most Open Asia Cup Yet?

With the T20I format’s unpredictability, the expanded format, neutral venues, and in-form Associate Nations, Asia Cup 2025 is shaping up to be the most wide-open edition in the tournament’s history.