Pakistan's 2012 win among the top five past Asia Cup finals

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  • Shahid Afridi and current skipper Sarfraz Ahmed celebrate in 2012.

    With this year’s Asia Cup in the UAE approaching its September 28th climax with Super Four matches getting underway on Sunday and Tuesday, we have trawled through the archives to look back at the top five finals from the competition’s history.

    And there were no shortage of iconic matches to choose from.

    Here’s our rundown in no particular order…

    2012 – Down to the wire

    In what was the closest Asia Cup final in history, Bangladesh fell two runs short of chasing down Pakistan’s target of 237 in the final played in Mirpur. Men in Green icon Shahid Afridi was man of the match after contributing with both bat and ball as Pakistan sealed their second Asia Cup trophy, adding to their inaugural win against the same opponent 12 years earlier.

    Pakistan's cricketeers pose for a photo with the tournament trophy following the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket final match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on March 22, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Munir uz ZAMAN (Photo credit should read MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

    Pakistan spoiled Bangladesh’s party on home soil six years ago.

    1988 – India claim second title triumph

    The Men in Blue are the most decorated team in the competition’s history with six successes. The subcontinent giants won the first edition of the event in 1984 and followed that up with a win four years last against Sri Lanka in Dhaka. Navjot Sidhu’s 87-ball 76 did the trick in the chase as India reached 180-4, winning by six wickets inside 38 overs.

    Navjot Sidhu batting for India during a Cricket World Cup first round match against Australia in Delhi, 22nd October 1987. India won the match by 56 runs. (Photo by Adrian Murrell/Getty Images)

    In the runs: Navjot Sidhu.

    2008 – An upset for the ages

    Sri Lanka made it back-to-back tournament victories ten years ago and shocked favourites India in Karachi, securing an emphatic 100-run win. Sanith Jayasuriya’s century set the game up and Ajantha Mendis claimed a brilliant 6-13 haul as the Men in Blue were skittled out for just 173 in reply.

    Sri Lanka cricket team captain Mahela Jayawardene (L) gestures after receiving the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf (R) during the award ceremony of the Asia Cup between India and Sri Lanka at National stadium in Karachi on July 06, 2008. Sri Lanka won by defeating India by 100 runs . AFP PHOTO/ Asif HASSAN (Photo credit should read ASIF HASSAN/AFP/Getty Images)

    Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene holds the trophy aloft.

    2014 – Little to separate finalists

    The Islanders seem to have had a habit of producing the goods in this tournament over the years and chased down 261 with 22 balls remaining to triumph against Pakistan. A century from Lahiru Thirimanne made the difference after Pakistan had previously looked in control, with their own Fawad Alam scoring 114 on a testing surface in Mirpur.

    Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne reacts after scoring a century (100 runs) during the final match of the Asia Cup one-day cricket tournament between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on March 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Munir uz ZAMAN (Photo credit should read MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

    Ton-up: Lahiru Thirimanne wheels away after scoring his century.

    2004 – Another famous occasion for Sri Lanka

    Lanka had the advantage of home soil in this tournament but made the most of it, upsetting the might of India in the showpiece. Having made 228-9 batting first, India could only manage 203-9 in reply despite Sachin Tendulkar’s 74. Batter Marvan Atapattu was named man of the match for his crucial 87-ball 65 which swung the early momentum into the hosts’ favour.

    COLOMBO, SRI LANKA: Sri Lankan cricket captain, Marvan Atapattu holds the trophy up high as he celebrates beating India at R. Premadasa International Cricket Ground in Colombo, 01 August 2004, in the final of the ODI Asia Cup. India with a total of 203 runs were chasing Sri Lanka's innings score of 228 runs with 9 wickets in the 50 overs. AFP PHOTO/Sena Vidanagama (Photo credit should read SENA VIDANAGAMA/AFP/Getty Images)

    It was a captain’s knock by Marvan Atapattu.

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