A page from the 1986 Asia Cup official souvenir. Courtesy nazimcricket[/caption]
The 1986 Asia Cup, which also known as the John Player Gold Leaf Trophy, was the second Asia Cup tournament. It was held in Sri Lanka between 30 March and 6 April 1986.
Three teams took part in the tournament were Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the leading Asian Associate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) then, Bangladesh, nicknamed the Tigers.
India pulled out of the tournament due to strained cricketing relations.
Bangladesh had in fact qualified to the event by winning the 1984 South-East Asia Cup.
The 1986 Asia Cup was a round-robin tournament where each team played the other once, and the top two teams qualifying for a place in the final.
Pakistan won both its matches and qualified for the final against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to win their first Asia Cup.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 81 runs at P. Sara in the tournament opener on 30 March 1986. Mohsin Khan scored 39 in a low-scoring match to win the Man of the Match award.
Then Pakistan beat Bangladesh by seven wickets the next day at Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa as Wasim Akram shone for the Pakistanis taking 4/19.
Then came the final league match, Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh, when the two teams met in real international cricket for the first time in history. Notably, after nearly 35 years after that, both nations have grown to be leading countries in world cricket.
In the Asia Cup final played at SSC, Colombo on 6 April, Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by five wickets to lift the trophy, which is considered Sri Lanka’s first major international cricket tournament victory.
Kaushik Amalean again took 4/46 as Arjuna Ranatunga helped the Lankans reach the target of 192 in 45 overs with a match-winning knock of 57 made off 65 balls.
Here is how the Wisden reported on the final:
At Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, 6 April. Sri Lanka won by five wickets to win the John Player Gold Leaf Trophy. Toss: Sri Lanka. In response to the requests of the large crowd, the President of Sri Lanka Mr. J.R. Jayawardene, declared a public holiday to commemorate the victory. Pakistan were 72 for five after 26 overs, but Javed Miandad gave the innings substance with a chanceless 67 (four fours) off 100 balls. The last nine overs yielded 91 runs. With Imran Khan off the field because of a leg injury, Sri Lanka made a steady start. The loss of three wickets set them back before Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga added 97 off 16.1 overs. Ranatunga’s 57 came off 65 balls, De Silva’s 52 of 66 balls.
Man of the Match: Javed Miandad. Man of the Series: Arjuna Ranatunga.