India and Pakistan's absence from the Asia Cup in 1986 and 1990: Reasons Explored
In the vibrant world of cricket, the Asia Cup has been a significant platform for international competition. This article takes a look at the memorable years of 1986 to 1990, a period marked by debuts, triumphs, and challenges.
The year 1986 saw the Asia Cup being hosted in Sri Lanka, with India, Pakistan, and the hosts themselves making up the three-team tournament. Amidst political tensions and concerns over ongoing violence, India decided to boycott the event, which led to Bangladesh being invited to avoid a reduction to a bilateral series. This was Bangladesh's first appearance in the ODI format, and they faced tough competition, losing both their matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, however, managed to clinch their first major silverware in the Asia Cup final, with Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga leading the charge. The victory was so significant that President JR Jayewardene declared a national holiday in celebration.
The following year, Bangladesh hosted the Asia Cup, which was now a four-nation affair. Pakistan won their league match against Sri Lanka by 81 runs, but the latter finished the group stage undefeated, a feat they repeated in the 1990 Asia Cup.
In 1988, Sri Lanka received a 'bye' to the semi-final of the five-nation Austral-Asia Cup in Sharjah due to their Asia Cup triumph. This period also marked the debuts of two cricketing legends - Sachin Tendulkar for India and Waqar Younis for Pakistan in the 1989 India-Pakistan series.
The 1990 Asia Cup was held in Pakistan, but both India and Pakistan opted out due to their military conflict over the Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participated, with Sri Lanka once again finishing the group stage undefeated. The final saw a thrilling conclusion, with India emerging victorious and Kapil Dev completing a hat-trick.
During this period, international cricket in Sri Lanka took a hit due to violence. The Anuradhapura Massacre in May 1985 claimed 146 lives, and the Colombo Central Bus Station Bombing of April 1987 resulted in at least 113 deaths. As a result, no team toured Sri Lanka between April 1987 and August 1992.
In conclusion, the Asia Cup of 1986-1990 was a tumultuous yet exciting time in cricket history. Despite political tensions and ongoing violence, the spirit of the game prevailed, leading to memorable moments and historic victories.
