This article is about the cricket tournament which has evolved from the former ACC Trophy. For the tournament which was run between 2004 and 2007 and was also known as ACC Premier League later, see ACC Fast Track Countries Tournament.
The ACC Premier Cup, officially known as the ACC Men's Premier Cup is a men's limited-overs international cricket tournament organized by the Asian Cricket Council and contested in a league system by the associate members of ACC. It crowns the best associate team in Asia and also serves as the final qualification pathway towards the Asia Cup. It evolved from the former ACC Trophy Elite cricket competition.[3] The inaugural edition of the tournament took place in April and May, 2023 with Nepal as the host. Currently, It's the top tier tournament for associate teams in Asia.[4]
History
This is a cricket tournament evolved from the former ACC Trophy, contested in 50 overs format and also the ACC Twenty20 Cup in T20 format, both were organized by the Asian Cricket Council. ACC Trophy was replaced by ACC Premier League in 2014.
ACC Premier League was held in Malaysia between 1–7 May 2014. Afghanistan won the tournament. The top four teams, Afghanistan, UAE, Nepal and Oman qualified for the 2014 ACC Championship, which was cancelled. After first edition of the tournament in 2014 and ACC Twenty20 Cup in 2015, the ACC reformed the tournament structure into a regional, rather than divisional basis.
In 2023, ACC reinvented the tournament and divided the associate members in a two-tier league system. Premier Cup is the top tier tournament while Challenger Cup being the bottom tier.[5] It's played in both 50-overs and T20I format alternatively, serving as a single ultimate prize for associate teams in Asia. Additionally, the tournament resembles the format used in Asia Cup, as it serves as a qualification path for the same.
