The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was formed in 1983 to strengthen the relations between the Asian countries and the first measure taken was the successful men’s Asia cup. Started as a 50-over triangular series, the format grew through the years and now is one of the most coveted multi-nation tournaments. The ACC followed suit and finally introduced a similar tournament for women in 2004, twenty years after the men’s event commenced.

There have been eight Women’s Asia Cup tournaments till now with India winning the most number of titles (7). In the ODI format, former India players Mithali Raj with 588 runs is leading run scorer and Neetu David with 26 wickets is the leading wicket taker of the tournament. In the T20 Asia Cups, India batter Mithali Raj is the leading run scorer having scored 402 runs and Pakistan bowler Nida Dar is the leading wicket taker.

Initially being played in the ODI format (50 overs per side), the tournament has since 2012, being played in the Twenty-20 format. In 2018, Bangladesh became the second team after India to win the tournament ending India’s six trophies winning streak. For a comprehensive understanding, here's the women's Asia Cup winners list through the years.

Only two teams, India and Sri Lanka participated in a 5-match ODI series hosted by Sri Lanka. The Indians under the leadership of Mamatha Maben won the series 5-0 and were crowned the Asian champions. Anju Jain scored 231 runs with skipper Maben leading from the front taking 10 wickets. Anjum Chopra was crowned the player of the series for scoring 88 runs and taking 2 wickets across the five games.

Champions: India, Captain: Mamatha Maben

Champions India and runner ups Sri Lanka of the previous Asia Cup were joined by hosts Pakistan making the women’s Asia cup a triangular event for the first time. Jaya Sharma (258) scored the most runs in the tournament with her compatriot Neetu David taking 9 wickets and finishing as the leading wicket taker. Out of the four head-to-head fixtures, India managed to win three games by 10 wickets (Sri Lanka twice and Pakistan once) and beat Pakistan by a mammoth margin of 193 runs in their 2nd encounter. Pakistan failed to win a single match resulting in the first ever Women’s Asia cup final to be played between India and Sri Lanka. After skipper Raj’s unbeaten 108 set Sri Lanka 270 to win, medium pacer Devika Palshikar registered figures of 3/31 restricting the opponents to 172/9.

Champions: India, Captain: Mithali Raj

The 2-time champions India hosted the tournament with all games played in Jaipur. India were unbeaten again winning all the 4 games by heavy margins, 80 & 103 runs against Pakistan and 10 & 7 wickets against Sri Lanka to reach the final. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in both their league encounters to contest the finals yet again. In the finals, Indian trio of Rumeli Dhar, Palshikar and Jhulan Goswami shared 6 wickets between them to dismiss Sri Lanka for 93. Steady partnerships at the top ensured India won by 8 wickets with 133 deliveries remaining. Young Thirush Kamini (135 runs, 8 wickets) and Sri Lanka’s Dedunu Silva, who scored the most runs in the edition were the joint player of the series award winners. Allrounder Sunetra Paranjpe (1/16 and 35*) was the player of the final.

Champions: India, Captain: Mithali Raj

The fourth edition of the tournament, hosted by Sri Lanka included Bangladesh for the first time. However, the matches involving the Bangladesh team did not have ODI status. Each team played every other team twice. India skipper Raj kick started the tournament with an unbeaten 109 against Bangladesh in the opener which India won by 182 runs. She followed her good form with 54* in the 2nd match against Sri Lanka, a 29-run victory for India. Rumeli Dhar with 92* led the assault in a 182-run mammoth victory over Pakistan with India winning the next encounter against Bangladesh by 5 wickets, defeated Sri Lanka once more by 8 wickets.

India ended their group stage by dismissing Pakistan for a paltry 76, winning the game by 207 runs. Sri Lanka reached the finals yet again but thanks to a brisk 97 from Asha Rawat in the 1st innings and 3-wicket hauls from Seema Pujare and Neetu David in the 2nd, India dismissed the hosts for just 83 continuing their winning streak. Rumeli Dhar with 8 wickets and 238 runs in the tournament was the player of the tournament.

_**Champions: India, Captain: Mithali Raj**_

The tournament format had an overhaul with 8 teams divided into 2 groups with all matches being played in the T20 format. India had arch rivals Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong in their group. The event was hosted by China. As expected, India topped group A winning all the 3 matches. They started the campaign by defeating Thailand by 77 runs, Hong Kong by 142 runs and then beat Pakistan by 8 wickets. India was pitted against Sri Lanka in the semifinals but the match was abandoned due to rain with India advancing to the finals on the back of higher points. The abandoned match broke India’s 25-match winning streak in the women’s Asia cup. The final against Pakistan was a low scoring affair where the women in blue were dismissed for 81 but a spirited performance by the Indian bowling attack where every bowler picked up at least a wicket restricted their rivals for just 63 to win another title. Pakistan’s Bismah Maroof scored the most runs (113) in the tournament also winning the player of the tournament prize.

Champions: India, Captain: Mithali Raj

The tournament traveled to Thailand with six teams participating playing each other once. India continued their winning momentum in the 6th edition as well winning all their games. They started off with a 64-run win against Bangladesh, defeated Thailand by 9 wickets, Pakistan by 5 wickets with just 3 balls remaining, a strong Sri Lanka side by 52 runs and then Nepal by 99 runs to seal a spot in the final against Pakistan. Former captain Raj hit a magnificent 73* setting 122 for Pakistan to win their first title. Hero of the previous edition Bismah Maroof was the top scorer in the 2nd innings but her knock of 25 in 26 deliveries wasn’t enough to chase the total against a strong India bowling attack, India won the final by 17 runs. Raj scored 220 runs with Ekta Bisht taking 10 wickets for India. Anuja Patil also impressed with her 8 scalps at an economy of 3.42. Mithali, however, was adjudged as the player of the tournament.

Champions: India Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur

The tournament was hosted by Malaysia for the first time and saw team India losing a game for the first time as they were defeated twice by Bangladesh in the tournament ending their 14-year long winning streak in the tournament’s history. Bangladesh got off to a poor start losing to Sri Lanka by 6 wickets but turned the tables defeating Pakistan by 7 wickets and the Indian side by the same margin. They finished the group stage on a high defeating Malaysia by 70 runs. Indian team topped the tables with a higher net run rate and equal number of points as Bangladesh, who finished second to qualify for the finals, a historic achievement.

In the final match, Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl and with a tidy bowling effort from Rumana Ahmed (2/22), Khadija Tul Kubra (2/23) and others restricted the defending champions to 112/9. Bangladesh’s top 5 batters all reached double figures with Nigar Sultana leading the charge scoring 27 in 24 balls. Wickets kept falling at regular interval with leg spinner Poonam Yadav finishing with 4/9 but number 8 batter Jahanara Alam kept her nerve to score the 2 runs required on the final ball of the match delivered by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur to take the Bangla tigresses to the trophy, winning by 3 wickets. Harmanpreet was the player of the tournament scoring 215 runs.

Champions: Bangladesh, Captain: Salma Khatun