Bangladesh will host 2016 Asia Cup which will be played in twenty20 formate with India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and 1 associate team take part in what will be a 12 day competition starting from 24th February 2016 and the final will be played on 06 March 2016.| DATES | HOSTS | TEAMS |
| 24 February-06 March 2016 | Bangladesh | Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan |
Asia Cup has been played since 1986 on frequent basis with Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh competing in the competition over the years. Cricket Asia Cup has always been a one day tournament but with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) now terminating their operations and getting absorbed by ICC it has been announced that 2016 Asia Cup will be a Twenty20 tournament played between 4 full test nations plus 2 associate teams from Asia. In the meeting which was concluded last week here are some of the new suggestion made for Asia Cups future.
Asia Cup T20 2016 – Teams Confirmed
In 2016 Asia Cup There will be 4 confirmed full test teams (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) plus one associate team from the four asian teams who already have T20 status (Afghanistan, UAE, Nepal and Hong Kong). So teams will compete in next years Asia Cup which will provide good experience for Asian teams to get themselves ready for T20 world cup to follow immediately.
- Asia Cup will be played regularly every two years from now on.
- In the Twenty20 World Cup year, Asia Cup will feature T20 competition and 2016 Asia Cup will be the first T20 event.
- Asia Cup 2016 will take place February or March before the T20 world cup in India.
- More associate teams will be included in the T20 competition.
- While in the year of 50 Over World Cup, Asia cup will be a one day tournament played before the world cup for example Asia Cup 2018 will be 50 over competition to be played before the 2019 world cup in India.
- While 2020 Asia Cup will again return to T20 format.
Asia Cup T20 2016 – Schedule & Dates:
Bangladesh will host 2016 Twenty20 Asia Cup from 24th February 2016 to 06 march 2016 but the venues and the match will be announced in couple of months time.
Sri Lanka and India has won the Asia Cup 5 teams each while Pakistan were victorious on 2 occasions. Total 12 tournaments has taken place since 1986.