2008 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament

The Asia Cup Cricket Tournament is an internationalbe three teams in each group and the top two
cricket event which was conceived in the year 1983teams from each group will qualify for the second
along with the birth of the Asian Cricket Council inround.
the same year. Originally the ACC(Asian CricketFrom the second round top two teams will contest
Council))was established as a measure to promotethe final. Karachi will host 10 of the 13 matches, while
goodwill among the Asian nations. The original planLahore will host three and all matches will be
was to hold the tournament in every two years andday-night affairs, starting late in the afternoon about
the first tournament was held in 1984 in Sharjah, UAE04:00 PM local time. As per a recent news article,
where the council's offices were based (until 1995).former Pakistani Cricket captain Wasim Akram was
ICC(International Cricket Council) has officially givensaying India is the most favourite for the 2008 Asia
One Day International status to all the matchesCup Champion considering the current conditions of
played for the Asia Cup.arch-rival Pakistan team. He says "Though Karachi's
Till now Indian cricket team has won the Asia Cuphot weather will be an additional rival for the
the most times (4 times) and appeared in all the finalparticipating teams in the Asia Cup, I see India as hot
matches apart from the 1986 and 2000 cup, duringfavourites for the event," the Dawn quoted Akram
which period India did not participated in theas saying. Till date India has performed very well in all
Tournament due to its bad relation with host nationthe Asia Cup tournaments and has won the
Sri Lanka. Recently ACC has announced that the AsiaChampionship 4 times.
Cup Cricket tournament will be held biennially fromConsidering their current exposure to IPL matches
2008 onwards.and the well praised performance in the ongoing
The ninth edition of the Asia Cup CricketBangladesh Tri-Series, they are certainly the favourite
Tournament will be held in Pakistan from 24th Junefor this edition of the championship also. However,
2008 onwards and will continue till 6th July 2008.Thistournament host & arch rival Pakistan and
would be the first time Pakistan would be hosting themighty Srilanka wont let it happen without pain. Let
three-side tournament, including Bangladesh. In thisus see who comes out as the Champion in the 9th
edition the participant nations are India, Pakistan,edition of 2008 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament!
Srilanka, UAE, Hong Kong and Bangladesh. There will