Asia Cup Top Moments: Virat Kohli's 183 vs Pakistan to Shahid Afridi finishing thriller vs India with 2 sixes

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Asia Cup 2023 is set to begin on August 30. Pakistan will take on Nepal in the first match of the tournament in Multan. Nepal taking the field would be a historic moment. The Asian minnows would be competing against the big boys of Asia for the first in their short but stunning cricket history.

In another first, the tournament has adopted a hybrid model for the first time. The BCCI refused to send India to Pakistan due to security reasons and political tensions between the two nations.

PCB had to give in and agree to host only four of the 13 matches in Pakistan. Nine matches including all involving India would be played in Sri Lanka. The continental showpiece event has witnessed several iconic moments since its first edition in 1984. Let's have a look at a few of them.

Virat Kohli's 183: The former India captain has 76 international hundreds to his name and recalling each one of them would not be easy for anyone. However, the 183 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2012, during a massive 330-run chase is a thing of folklore.

Kohli smashed a total of 22 fours and a six in the knock as India won with six wickets and 13 balls remaining. The innings came against a Pakistan bowling unit which consisted of Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.

Ajantha Mendis' six-fer vs India: The Sri Lankan spinner would terrorise batters when he was new in international cricket. It took a lot of time for the batters to figure out a way to tackle the mystery spinner. In the final of Asia Cup 2008, Mendis ran through the star-studded Indian batting order who were chasing 274.

Mendis picked six wickets for 13 runs only as Sri Lanka stormed to victory by a 100-run margin. He picked the wickets of Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan and RP Singh.

Shahid Afridi's two sixes of R Ashwin: Pakistan were in need of 10 runs in the final over in their 2014 Asia Cup versus India. Pakistan were eight down and all eyes were on Shahid Afridi. Bowling the final over for India was Ravichandran Ashwin who clean-bowled Saed Ajmal on the first ball before Junaid Khan ran a single to give Afridi the strike.

Pakistan were nine down and Afridi took no risk by giving Junaid the strike back again and finished the match with back-to-back sixes on the third and fourth delivery. Pakistan won the match by one wicket and two balls remaining as Afridi remained unbeaten on 34 off 18.

Harbhajan Singh's six off Mohammad Amir ft. heated exchange with Shoaib Akhtar: Chasing a 268-run target, India were heading towards a defeat when Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Rain took the charge and went all guns blazing against Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Amir in the death overs.

Raina scored 34 off 27 before getting run out in the 50th over. Praveen Kumar ran a double and then took a single to give Harbhajan the strike. With three needed off the last two balls, Harbhajan blasted a six off Amir on the penultimate delivery to hand India a memorable win.

Tempers flared between Harbhajan and Akhtar during the final over. Harbhajan also hit a six off the former Pakistan speedster.

Asif Ali-Fareed Ahmed's fight followed by Naseem Shah's two sixes vs Afghanistan: Chasing a 130-run target against Afghanistan, Pakistan were in shambles. They were six down for 105 in 17.1 overs Pakistan were in need of 20 off 10 balls when Fareed Ahmad got rid of Haris Rauf on the second ball of the 18th over.

Drama unfurled on the fourth and fifth balls of the over. Asif Ali first hit a six and then out on the penultimate delivery of the over. A fiery celebration provoked Asif Ali as he lost his temper and pushed the pacer first before almost hitting him with his bat.

Pakistan were nine down at the beginning of the 20th over and 11 runs were needed off the last six balls. An Afghanistan win looked improbable but number 10 batter Naseem Shah hit sixes on the first two balls to seal the deal for Pakistan. A wild celebration from Naseem was followed by a fight between Afghanistan and Pakistan fans in the stands.