Cricket
Pakistan's Asia Cup Victories: A Look at Their Championship Titles
The next edition of the Asia Cup is scheduled for September 2025. SportsBoom looks at two-time Asia Cup winners Pakistan and their success on the continental stage.
Pakistan cricketer Umar Gul appeals unsuccessfully for a LBW decision//Getty Images
Pakistan has tasted cricket glory many times, including the ICC Champions Trophy and the Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup.
On a continental level, the country has also enjoyed time at the top, proving their worth against the likes of India and Sri Lanka.
When analysing Pakistan Asia Cup titles records, the nation has claimed the prestigious trophy two times, in 2000 and in 2012.
Competing in every edition except one, storied rivalries against India and Sri Lanka have played out in often dramatic fashion.
SportsBoom has looked at Pakistan’s status as Asia Cup 2000 winners and again in 2012, detailing these two campaigns.
Pakistan's Asia Cup Championship Wins
First Triumph: Asia Cup 2000
Pakistan's Yousuf Youhana hits a boundary as he scored a century//Getty Images
Pakistan’s victory in the 2000 Asia Cup was a significant milestone for the country, marking their rise on the continent after mixed results in previous editions.
It was also their first major trophy since defeating England in the 1992 Cricket World Cup final eight years earlier, and their last title for another nine years.
Hosted in Bangladesh in the one-day international format, Pakistan won all three of their group-stage matches to set up the final against Sri Lanka.
Showcasing a strong team effort during the tournament, the Falcons first crushed Bangladesh by a massive 233 runs and then defeated India by 44 runs.
After defeating Sri Lanka by 7 wickets, a maiden Asia Cup was added to the list of Pakistan cricket achievements after a 39-run win against the Lions.
Yousuf Youhana was the standout batsman, topping the overall scoring charts with 295 runs in just four matches, including an unbeaten 100 versus India.
Pakistan also dominated the bowling stats, with Abdul Razzaq claiming eight wickets in total ahead of his teammate Azhar Mahmood, who claimed five.
Captain Moin Khan also played a crucial leadership role, with Saeed Anwar and Shoaib Akhtar also lending their experience alongside the young players.
The 2000 Asia Cup win was of particular significance, considering that Pakistan were rebuilding their international reputation after years of inconsistency.
Winning the trophy added to the Falcons’ legacy in the sport and also laid the foundation for future successes in the Asia Cup and global competition.
First Triumph
Asia Cup 2000
| Opponent | Venue | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Bangabandhu Stadium, Dhaka | Pakistan |
| India | Bangabandhu Stadium, Dhaka | Pakistan |
| Sri Lanka | Bangabandhu Stadium, Dhaka | Pakistan |
| Sri Lanka (Final) | Bangabandhu Stadium, Dhaka | Pakistan |
Second Victory: Asia Cup 2012
Pakistan's cricketeers pose for a photo with the tournament trophy//Getty Images
Three years after their maiden T20 World Cup title, Pakistan added the title Asia Cup 2012 winners to their list of international and continental trophies.
Held in Bangladesh again, still in the ODI format, they first earned a somewhat narrow 21-run win over the hosts before a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
Things took an interesting twist when Pakistan were defeated by India by 6 wickets, with the hosts advancing to the final based on net run rate alone.
The intense nature of the Asia Cup was manifested in the final, with the Falcons posting 236/9 after a blistering 3/46 by Bangladesh’s Aizaz Cheema.
The Tigers then took the game down to the proverbial wire, with Shakib Al Hasan smashing 68 from 72 as the hosts were defeated by only two runs.
Pakistan’s cricket championship record Asia Cup 2012 win was attributed to Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, as well as Umar Gul and Mohammad Hafeez.
Gul was the tournament’s best bowler with nine wickets from four matches, while Hafeez was among the batting top five with 245 runs in the edition.
Pakistan was also credited for sticking to a winning game plan against a determined Bangladesh side who were desperate to claim a first major trophy.
Instead, the Tigers fell short yet again and the Falcons went on to cement their legacy in Asian cricket history and also rekindled their battered pride.
Second Victory
Asia Cup 2012
| Opponent | Venue | Winner | Victory Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur Thana | Pakistan | 21 runs |
| Sri Lanka | Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur Thana | Pakistan | 6 wickets |
| India | Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur Thana | India | 6 wickets |
| Bangladesh (Final) | Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur Thana | Pakistan | 2 runs |
Pakistan's Overall Asia Cup Journey
Beyond their two Asia Cup victories, Pakistan has been a regular contender, also ending as the runners-up three times in their history.
The Falcons are also the third-most successful on the continent in terms of the tournament, behind India and Sri Lanka, respectively.
One could say that Pakistan’s campaigns have been shaped by rivalries, with matches against India carrying a long-standing intensity.
The same can be said of their clashes with Sri Lanka, dating as far back as the Lions 1986 Asia Cup win that saw the Falcons second.
These rivalries, as well as the dramatic nature of high-stakes matches throughout history, have elevated the quality of the tournament.
Heading into the 2025 edition later this year, Pakistan might not carry the same trophy tally but has shown its resilience many times.
If the 2025 Asia Cup goes ahead as planned, a record eight teams will compete: the five ICC full member countries of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, along with 2024 ACC Premier Cup qualifiers Hong Kong, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Conclusion
In summary, the Falcons have been crowned Asia Cup champions on two occasions: in the year 2000 and again in 2012.
When answering the question, ‘How many times has Pakistan won the Asia Cup?’, the short and simple answer is twice.
However, that does not fully encapsulate what these two successes meant to the country and what the wins inspired.
While Pakistan has had ups and downs, these victories remain significant achievements in the broader cricket arena.
Pakistan's two Asia Cup titles, particularly the thrilling 2012 victory, demonstrate their ability to win major regional tournaments; their historical success and passionate rivalry make them a team to watch in every Asia Cup campaign.
Bruce Douglas has more than 12 years of experience in local news media. He has worked at all levels of print and online publication, from crime and politics to photography, newspaper layout, proofreading, mentoring, sub-editing, and leading a newsroom. He played numerous sports at the school level and enjoys keeping up to date.