60 centuries have been scored across 14 editions of the Asia Cup ODI (1984 to 2023). Pakistan’s Moin-ul-Atiq and Ijaz Ahmed scored the first two hundreds in 1988, while Sanath Jayasuriya holds the all-time record with 6 centuries.
Below is the complete list of the first 10 hundreds in Asia Cup ODI history, with a detailed breakdown of each innings, followed by player-wise and country-wise stats.
Centuries in Asia Cup ODI History
These 10 innings laid the foundation for century-scoring in the Asia Cup. Three countries contributed: Pakistan (3), India (2), and Sri Lanka (5).
| Sr. No. | Player | Team | Score | Balls | SR | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moin-ul-Atiq | PAK | 105 | 117 | 89.74 | v Bangladesh | Chattogram | 29 Oct 1988 |
| 2 | Ijaz Ahmed | PAK | 124* | 87 | 142.52 | v Bangladesh | Chattogram | 29 Oct 1988 |
| 3 | NS Sidhu | IND | 104* | 109 | 95.41 | v Bangladesh | Chandigarh | 25 Dec 1990 |
| 4 | SR Tendulkar | IND | 112* | 107 | 104.67 | v Sri Lanka | Sharjah | 9 Apr 1995 |
| 5 | A Ranatunga | SL | 131* | 152 | 86.18 | v India | Colombo (RPS) | 18 Jul 1997 |
| 6 | ST Jayasuriya | SL | 108 | 83 | 130.12 | v Bangladesh | Colombo (SSC) | 22 Jul 1997 |
| 7 | SC Ganguly | IND | 135* | 124 | 108.87 | v Bangladesh | Dhaka | 30 May 2000 |
| 8 | ST Jayasuriya | SL | 105 | 116 | 90.51 | v India | Dhaka | 1 Jun 2000 |
| 9 | M Yousuf | PAK | 100* | 112 | 89.28 | v India | Dhaka | 3 Jun 2000 |
| 10 | MS Atapattu | SL | 100 | 124 | 80.64 | v Pakistan | Dhaka | 7 Jun 2000 |
Detailed Breakdown of Each Century
Every one of these 10 centuries carries a story. Some broke new ground, others powered match-winning chases, and a few came from players who would go on to rewrite ODI records entirely.
1. Moin-ul-Atiq (PAK): 105 vs Bangladesh, 29 Oct 1988
Moin-ul-Atiq owns a record that can never be taken away. He scored the first-ever century in Asia Cup history.
It happened during the 1988 Wills Asia Cup at Chattogram, Bangladesh. The tournament was only in its third edition, and no batter had managed to cross 100 in the previous two.
Moin changed that with a composed 105 off 117 balls. He anchored Pakistan’s innings alongside Ijaz Ahmed, and together they put on a 205-run partnership.
Pakistan posted 284/3 in 45 overs. Bangladesh could only manage 111/6 in reply, handing Pakistan a 173-run victory.
Moin was rightfully named Player of the Match. For context, cricket was still relatively new in Bangladesh at the time, so this wasn’t quite a David vs Goliath contest. Still, someone had to be the first.
2. Ijaz Ahmed (PAK): 124* vs Bangladesh, 29 Oct 1988
In the same match where Moin made history, Ijaz Ahmed stole the show with a blistering 124 not out off just 87 balls.
His innings included 9 fours and 4 sixes, producing a strike rate of 142.52. For the late 1980s, that was an absurdly aggressive tempo.
While Moin held one end steady, Ijaz went on the attack. Their contrasting styles made the 205-run stand one of the top 5 highest partnerships in Asia Cup history.
Ijaz finished the 1988 tournament with 192 runs at an average of 96.00, second only to his own partnership partner in terms of impact. Two centuries in one innings, same team, same match. The Asia Cup had a blockbuster opening act.
3. NS Sidhu (IND): 104* vs Bangladesh, 25 Dec 1990
Christmas 1990, Chandigarh. While most people were celebrating the holiday, Navjot Singh Sidhu decided to unwrap a century for the Indian fans.
He scored 104 not out off 109 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes. India chased down Bangladesh’s 170/6 comfortably, winning by 9 wickets with 79 balls to spare.
This was the only century in the 1990-91 Asia Cup, making it the tournament’s highest individual score that year. Pakistan had pulled out due to political tensions with India, leaving just three teams in the draw.
Sidhu earned the Man of the Match award and finished the tournament with 144 runs at 72.00.
The man later known as “Sixer Sidhu” showed exactly why that nickname stuck. He attacked spinners like they owed him money and treated pace bowlers only slightly better.
4. SR Tendulkar (IND): 112* vs Sri Lanka, 9 Apr 1995
By 1995, Sachin Tendulkar was already well on his way to becoming a global cricketing icon. His 112 not out off 107 balls at Sharjah was his 4th ODI century.
The innings featured 15 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 104.67. Classic Tendulkar: elegant drives, perfectly timed pulls, and an unbeaten knock that controlled the entire innings.
India won the 1995 Pepsi Asia Cup at Sharjah, claiming the title for the third consecutive time. Tendulkar’s 112* remained the sole century of the entire tournament, which says a lot about his dominance.
He would score one more Asia Cup century 17 years later (114 vs Bangladesh in 2012), completing his 100th international century. But his Sharjah knock in 1995 was where the Asia Cup first felt the Tendulkar effect.
5. A Ranatunga (SL): 131* vs India, 18 Jul 1997
Arjuna Ranatunga was fresh off leading Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup triumph. In the 1997 Asia Cup at Colombo, he proved that title run was no fluke.
His 131 not out off 152 balls against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium was a captain’s knock through and through. He hit 17 fours but zero sixes, relying entirely on placement and timing.
At a strike rate of 86.18, Ranatunga’s approach was calculated rather than explosive. He knew the bowling well, picked his moments, and let the bad balls do the scoring.
Sri Lanka went on to win the 1997 Asia Cup, beating India by 8 wickets in the final with 79 balls remaining. Ranatunga’s 131* set the tone for that dominant campaign.
6. ST Jayasuriya (SL): 108 vs Bangladesh, 22 Jul 1997
Four days after Ranatunga’s masterclass, Sanath Jayasuriya entered the Asia Cup century club with 108 off just 83 balls against Bangladesh at the SSC in Colombo.
With 14 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 130.12, this was vintage Jayasuriya. Aggressive from ball one, no mercy on anything short or full.
This was the first of his record 6 Asia Cup centuries. Over the next 11 years (1997 to 2008), Jayasuriya would add five more, building a tally that no other batter has matched.
To put it simply, if the Asia Cup had a GOAT list, Jayasuriya would be batting at the top. And he would probably hit the first ball for four.
7. SC Ganguly (IND): 135* vs Bangladesh, 30 May 2000
The 2000 Asia Cup moved to Dhaka, and Sourav Ganguly turned up with all the flair that made him one of India’s most iconic left-handers.
His 135 not out off 124 balls against Bangladesh came with 6 fours and 7 sixes. Those 7 maximums were a statement of intent.
At a strike rate of 108.87, Ganguly combined classical off-side play with raw six-hitting power. Bowlers who strayed on his pads paid the price, and those who went wide got punished through the covers.
This was the highest individual score in the 2000 Asia Cup. Ganguly’s knock also set the stage for a tournament that would see 4 centuries in total, all at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
8. ST Jayasuriya (SL): 105 vs India, 1 Jun 2000
Just two days after Ganguly’s fireworks, Jayasuriya answered back with 105 off 116 balls against India at the same ground in Dhaka.
This was a more measured knock by Jayasuriya’s explosive standards. With 11 fours and zero sixes, he showed a patience that surprised many.
The strike rate of 90.51 reflected a mature innings. While the 1997 century was all aggression, this 2000 knock against India proved Jayasuriya could build an innings when the situation demanded it.
This was his 2nd Asia Cup century. Four more would follow over the next 8 years, cementing him as the undisputed king of Asia Cup centuries.
9. Mohammad Yousuf (PAK): 100* vs India, 3 Jun 2000
Then known as Yousuf Youhana, the Pakistani middle-order maestro delivered a match-defining 100 not out off 112 balls against India.
His innings included 9 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 89.28. It was a controlled, responsible knock in a high-pressure India vs Pakistan clash at Dhaka.
Pakistan went on to win the 2000 Asia Cup, their first-ever title in the tournament. Mohammad Yousuf was named Man of the Series for his consistent performances throughout the competition.
Against India, with the crowd roaring, cameras flashing, and India-Pakistan tension at its peak, Yousuf stayed ice-cold. That composure under pressure became his trademark for years to come
10. MS Atapattu (SL): 100 vs Pakistan, 7 Jun 2000
Marvan Atapattu rounded off the first 10 centuries in Asia Cup history with a 100 off 124 balls in the 2000 final against Pakistan at Dhaka.
With 9 fours and zero sixes at a strike rate of 80.64, Atapattu’s innings was a slow burn. He tried to hold Sri Lanka’s chase together, but Pakistan’s bowlers ultimately prevailed.
Despite Atapattu’s century, Sri Lanka fell short, and Pakistan lifted the trophy for the first time. Sometimes a century on a losing side hurts more than a duck. Atapattu would know.
Still, his knock completed an interesting pattern: the 2000 Asia Cup produced 4 centuries, all at the same venue (Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka), from 3 different countries. Cricket loves symmetry like that.
Most Centuries by a Player in Asia Cup (ODI)
While the first 10 centuries set the stage, several players went on to dominate the tournament over multiple editions. Jayasuriya’s 6 centuries remain the gold standard.
| Rank | Player | Country | Centuries | Matches | Highest | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 6 | 25 | 130 | 1997-2008 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 4 | 16 | 183 | 2010-2023 |
| 3 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 4 | 24 | 125 | 2004-2014 |
| 4 | Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 3 | 17 | 143 | 2004-2014 |
| 5 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 2 | 23 | 114 | 1995-2012 |
| 5 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 2 | 23 | 124 | 2010 |
| 5 | Younis Khan | Pakistan | 2 | 14 | 144 | 2004-2012 |
| 5 | Shikhar Dhawan | India | 2 | 9 | 127 | 2018 |
Kohli’s 183 against Pakistan in 2012 remains the highest individual score in Asia Cup history. Sangakkara’s 3 centuries in the 2008 edition is the record for most hundreds in a single tournament.
Additionally, Shahid Afridi’s 124 off 53 balls against Bangladesh in 2010 still holds the record for the fastest century in Asia Cup history.
Country-wise Breakdown of Asia Cup ODI Centuries
India leads the overall tally, but Pakistan and Sri Lanka are not far behind. Together, these three account for 52 of the 60 centuries.
| Rank | Country | Centuries | Top Centurion | Notable Knocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 20 | V Kohli (4) | Kohli 183 vs PAK (2012), Ganguly 135* vs BAN (2000) |
| 2 | Pakistan | 18 | S Malik (3) | Babar 151 vs NEP (2023), Afridi 124 vs BAN (2010) |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 14 | Jayasuriya (6) | Ranatunga 131* vs IND (1997), Sangakkara x3 (2008) |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 8 | Mushfiqur (2) | Mushfiqur 144 vs SL (2018), Mehidy 112 vs AFG (2023) |
| 5 | Afghanistan | 1 | M Shahzad (1) | Shahzad 124 vs IND (2018) |
Bangladesh’s count jumped from 6 to 8 in the 2023 edition alone, with both Mehidy Hasan (112) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (104) scoring centuries against Afghanistan.
On the other hand, Afghanistan’s sole century came from Mohammad Shahzad (124 vs India, 2018). That knock nearly caused one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
Key Records in Asia Cup ODI Centuries
| Record | Holder | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Individual Score | Virat Kohli (IND) | 183 vs Pakistan, Dhaka, 2012 |
| Fastest Century (by balls) | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | Century off 53 balls vs Bangladesh, 2010 |
| Most Centuries (Career) | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 6 centuries in 25 matches (1997-2008) |
| Most Centuries (Single Edition) | Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 3 centuries in Asia Cup 2008 |
| Most Centuries (Edition Total) | 2008 Asia Cup (Pakistan) | 13 centuries across all teams |
| First Century in Asia Cup | Moin-ul-Atiq (PAK) | 105 vs Bangladesh, 29 Oct 1988 |
| Most Team Centuries | India | 20 centuries from 14 different batters |
Conclusion: 60 Centuries and Counting
The Asia Cup ODI has witnessed 60 centuries across 14 editions, each adding a new chapter to the tournament’s history. From Moin-ul-Atiq’s pioneering 105 in 1988 to Babar Azam’s 151 in 2023, these knocks have shaped careers and decided titles.
India (20), Pakistan (18), and Sri Lanka (14) have driven the bulk of these hundreds. With the next ODI Asia Cup expected in 2027, the race for more three-figure scores continues.
