 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Administrator | Sharjah Cricket Association |
|---|---|
| Format | One Day International |
| First edition | 1986 |
| Latest edition | 1994 |
| Tournament format | Round-robin andKnock Out |
| Number of teams | 6 per tournament |
| Current champion |  Pakistan (3rd title) |
| Most successful | Pakistan (3 titles) |
| Most runs |  Mohammad Azharuddin (371) |
| Most wickets | Wasim Akram (18) |
TheAustral-Asia Cup was aOne Day International cricket tournament held atSharjah,United Arab Emirates. The Arab millionaire Abdur Rahman Bukhathir brought cricket initially to Sharjah in the mid-1980s and organized a multi-nation one-day tournament involving several cricketing nations such asAustralia,India,New Zealand,Pakistan andSri Lanka. The tournament became defunct by the mid-1990s.
PakistanThe first tournament was held at Sharjah in April 1986. India beat New Zealand and Pakistan beat Australia in the first round. Sri Lanka as Asia Cup winners got a bye to the semi-final, where they lost to India. New Zealand fielding a weakened team were bowled all out for 64 in the other semi.Abdul Qadir took 4–9 in 10 overs.
Pakistan and India met in the final in front of a capacity crowd of 20,000. India scored 245–7 withSunil Gavaskar top-scoring with 92. Pakistan need 90 to win of the last ten overs.Javed Miandad held the innings together. In a tense finale, the last over bowled byChetan Sharma began with 11 runs required and two wickets fell in that over. Pakistan was nine wickets down and needed 4 runs with Javed Miandad facing the final ball. Chetan Sharma's intended yorker became a full toss which was dispatched into the crowds by Javed for a six. Pakistan finished on 248–9 with Javed finishing on 116 not out.[1] It is still considered one of the most historic moments in one-day cricket history and Javed became a Pakistani national hero.
PakistanThe second tournament took place in April 1990 at Sharjah withBangladesh joining in. The six teams were split into 2 groups:
Group A: Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh
Group B: India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
With Bangladesh and India falling by the wayside, Australia beat Sri Lanka in the first semi-final withSimon O'Donnell hitting a then world record 50 in 18 balls. Pakistan again bowled New Zealand out for less than 100 to go through to the final. During the tournamentWaqar Younis took 4 wickets in an innings three successive times: 4–42, 6–26 and 5–20.
Pakistan scored 266–7 in the final and Australia's 10 match winning streak was brought to an end byWasim Akram. He ended their innings with ahat-trick, clean-bowlingMerv Hughes,Carl Rackemann andTerry Alderman.[2][3] Australia making 230-all out.
PakistanTheUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) replaced Bangladesh as the sixth team in the tournament, with the UAE playing their first everOne Day International match. Again there were two groups of three teams.
Group A: India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates
Group B: Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
The UAE and Sri Lanka did not make the semis. India defeated Australia in the first semi-final and this time Pakistan scored 328–2 with a then world record stand for the 2nd wicket betweenAamer Sohail (134) andInzamam-ul-Haq (137 not out) of 263 against New Zealand and won by 62 runs.
This set up the final most people wanted: India v Pakistan. Pakistan made 250 for 6, withAamer Sohail top scoring with 69. India were bowled all out for 211. Pakistan had a hat-trick of Austral-Asia Cup triumphs.
Due to match-fixing allegations, the Austral-Asia Cup was discontinued after 1994.