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| Asia Cup 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Asia Cup 2018 |
| Cricket format | One Day International |
| Administrator | Asian Cricket Council |
| Tournament format | Round-robin and knockout |
| Host | United Arab Emirates |
| Champions | Pakistan |
| Matches | 13 |
| Player of the series | Mohammad Amir |
Asia Cup 2018 was the thirteenth edition of the continental cricket competition organized by the Asian Cricket Council and sanctioned by the International Cricket Council. Held in the United Arab Emirates with matches staged in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the tournament featured six teams competing in the One Day International format ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Pakistan defeated India national cricket team in the final to win their second title in the event.
The decision to schedule the tournament in the United Arab Emirates followed political tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board, prompting the Asian Cricket Council to select a neutral venue in consultation with the International Cricket Council and member boards including the Sri Lanka Cricket and Bangladesh Cricket Board. The tournament acted as a preparatory competition before the 2019 Cricket World Cup and drew broadcasting rights negotiated with networks such as Star Sports and ESPNcricinfo covering matches across the Indian subcontinent and Middle East.
Six teams contested the event: the four full-member Asian teams India national cricket team, Pakistan national cricket team, Sri Lanka national cricket team, and Bangladesh national cricket team alongside associate qualifiers Afghanistan national cricket team and the Hong Kong national cricket team. Qualification involved an Asia Cup Qualifier in which United Arab Emirates national cricket team and Hong Kong competed, but Hong Kong secured the berth. Squads included players from franchise competitions such as the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League, and Caribbean Premier League, featuring stars like Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Shakib Al Hasan, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan, and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Matches were staged at two main venues: the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Dubai venue has hosted fixtures for tournaments like the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League while Sheikh Zayed has been a neutral venue for teams including Pakistan national cricket team and England cricket team. Pitch preparations were overseen by curators experienced with One Day International surfaces and floodlight facilities accommodated prime-time telecasts in regions spanning Asia and the Middle East.
The tournament used a two-stage format: an initial group stage with two groups of three teams each, followed by a Super Four round-robin and a final. Each team played One Day International matches in groups with net run rate determining tiebreakers per International Cricket Council regulations. The top two teams from each group advanced to the Super Four, where round-robin results decided the finalists. Match officials were appointed from panels including members of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and match referees from the ICC Referees Panel.
Group A featured India national cricket team, Hong Kong national cricket team, and Pakistan national cricket team, with opening fixtures drawing significant attention from broadcasters like Star Sports and analytics outlets such as ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz. Group B consisted of Sri Lanka national cricket team, Bangladesh national cricket team, and Afghanistan national cricket team. Notable performances included centuries and five-wicket hauls from players associated with domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and contributions from all-rounders with experience in the County Championship and Big Bash League.
The Super Four round saw India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka compete in a round-robin, with Pakistan's bowling attack, including left-arm pacers and seam bowlers nurtured in the Pakistan Super League system, proving decisive. The final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium pitted Pakistan national cricket team against India national cricket team; Pakistan won by a narrow margin. Tournament leadership included captains familiar from franchise and international circuits such as Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mashrafe Mortaza, and Dimuth Karunaratne.
Leading run-scorers and wicket-takers were recognized alongside the Player of the Series award. Mohammad Amir earned accolades for his pace and swing, while batsmen from squads like India national cricket team and Bangladesh national cricket team topped the run charts. Statistical summaries were compiled by outlets including ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, and the Asian Cricket Council official reports, noting strike rates, averages, and economy rates derived from match scorecards and performance data used by franchises such as Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.
The event generated debate over venue selection, broadcasting rights involving networks such as Star Sports and Ten Sports, and umpiring decisions scrutinized by commentators from ESPNcricinfo and former players from India national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team. Its legacy included diplomatic discussions among cricket boards like the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Pakistan Cricket Board, influence on team selections for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and impact on franchise scouting ahead of seasons in the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League. The tournament reinforced the Asian Cricket Council’s role in regional competition and contributed to player rankings maintained by the International Cricket Council.
Category:Asia Cup tournaments Category:2018 in cricket Category:Cricket competitions in the United Arab Emirates