Asia Cup 2008 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pakistan

The Asia Cup tournament was conceived by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) as a one day international (50 over) cricket tournament featuring Asian countries. Though initially planned to be conducted once in two years, its frequency has always varied, due to various reasons.

The 2008 tournament was conducted in Pakistan. The tournament started in the year 1984 and the 2008 tournament was the ninth edition. The hosts of the previous editions were 1984 (UAE), 1986 (Sri Lanka), 1988 (Bangladesh), 1990 (India), 1995 (UAE), 1997 (Sri Lanka), 2000 (Bangladesh) and 2004 (Sri Lanka).

This was the first time that Pakistan was hosting an Asia cup tournament. Political tensions between India and Pakistan had earlier prevented Pakistan from hosting the tournament.

Answer: China

The teams participating were put in two groups. Group A comprised Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, and Group B comprised of Pakistan, India, and Hong Kong.

Answer: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka won the 2008 Asia Cup, reclaiming the trophy which they had won previously in 2004. India and Sri Lanka reached the finals, which was played at Karachi. Batting first, the Sri Lanka team was all out for 273 and in reply India was knocked out for 173.

This was Sri Lanka's fourth Asia Cup win. The winners of the Asia Cup were 1984 India, 1986 Sri Lanka, 1988 India, 1990 India, 1995 India, 1997 Sri Lanka, 2000 Pakistan, 2004 Sri Lanka, and 2008 Sri Lanka.

Answer: Ajantha Mendis

New Sri Lankan bowler Ajantha Mendis was the find of the Asia Cup 2008. Playing only his eighth one dayer, the Lankan with the 'carrom-board flick' action, bamboozled the Indian batsmen. He took a record 6 wickets for 13 runs in 8 overs, which was the third best bowling performance in a tournament final, and also the third best figures for a spinner in ODIs.

He deservingly received the Man of the Match trophy. Mendis ended the series with 17 wickets in 5 matches at a stunning average of 8.52, with a strike rate of 14.8 and a miserly economy rate of 3.45.

Answer: Sanath Jayasuriya

Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya topped the batting charts, having scored 372 runs in 5 matches at an average of 75.60, with 2 centuries and one fifty with a strike rate of 126. Jayasuriya scored 125 in 114 balls in the finals helping his team to win the tournament. Jayasuriya was also the highest scorer in the Asia Cup having scored 1220 runs at an average of 53.04.

India's Suresh Raina was close behind in the aggregates with 372 runs in 6 matches.

Answer: Dhoni

Indian captain MS Dhoni had the most dismissals in the tournament, which was 11 in 6 matches with 8 catches and 3 stumpings. Sangakkara was close behind with 9 in 6 matches, with 5 catches and 4 stumpings.

Answer: False

Both UAE and Hong Kong could not win a single match in the group stage of the 2008 Asia Cup. UAE was beaten by Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh and Hong Kong were beaten by India and Pakistan.

Answer: India 1, Pakistan 1

The first India-Pakistan match in the series was played on 26 June in the group stage. Pakistan set a target of 300 for India, which was chased down by India in 42.1 overs. The next match between India and Pakistan was in the Super four stage, played on 2 July.

India scored 308/7 in 50 overs, and Pakistan reached 309 losing just 2 wickets in 45.3 overs. Thus the result was 1-1 in the series.

Answer: Taufel & Hill

Australian Simon Taufel and New Zealand's Tony Hill were the two umpires who officiated in the finals of the 2008 Asia Cup. Other umpires who stood in the series included Ian Gould (England) and Brian Jerling (South Africa).

Answer: Sachin Tendulkar

He had withdrawn from the series due to an injury, which had troubled him in the Australia series as well as in the IPL. Murali (Sri Lanka), Younis & Yousuf (Pakistan) played in the 2008 Asia Cup.