The Asia Cup is a 50-over and 20-over tournament organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that features top Asian cricketing nations. Sri Lanka, an island nation, is one of the competing teams in the tournament and has won the trophy twice. This article examines some of the Sri Lankan players who have played the most matches in the Asia Cup (50-over format) as well as their records and achievements.

1. Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene is a former right-handed top-order batter and a Sri Lanka captain from Colombo. Mahela first featured in the Asia Cup in 2000 and played in the Asia Cup until the 2014 edition. He played in 28 matches, the most for any player in the Asia Cup, scoring 674 runs at an average of 29.30.

2. Sanath Jayasuriya

Next on the list, we have Sri Lanka’s flamboyant and dashing left-handed opening batter, Sanath Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka in 25 Asia Cup games from 1990 to 2008 and scored 1220 runs at an outstanding average of 53.04 with six centuries to his name. With his left-arm orthodox spin bowling, he took 22 wickets at an average of 30.31.

3. Aravinda de Silva

Aravinda de Silva is a former Sri Lankan batting all-rounder from Colombo and one of the finest entertainers the game has ever seen. Silva featured in his first Asia Cup in 1984 and played in 24 Asia Cup matches until 2000. He was a right-handed batter who scored 645 runs in 24 matches at an average of 32.25.

4. Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan, the most successful spinner in cricket history and a Sri Lankan legend, is next to feature on the list. Muralitharan played in 24 Asia Cup games from 1995 to 2010 and picked up 30 wickets at an average of 28.83. He is the highest wicket-taker in the Asia Cup.

5. Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, a left-handed wicketkeeper batter and a former Sri Lankan captain, is next on the list. Sangakkara featured in the Asia Cup from 2004 to 2014 in 24 matches and scored 1075 runs at an impressive average of 48.86, with four centuries to his name. He is the second-highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup.

6. Tillakaratne Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka’s right-handed opening batter and a brilliant stroke-maker, is next on the list. Dilshan started playing in the Asia Cup in 2000 and played until 2012. He played for Sri Lanka in 20 Asia Cup matches and scored 368 runs at an average of 21.64, and he also took five wickets with his part-time off-spin bowling. 

7. Arjuna Ranatunga

Arjuna Ranatunga, a former left-handed batter and one of Sri Lanka’s finest captains, is the next to feature on the list. From 1987 to 1994, Ranatunga played in 19 Asia Cup matches and amassed 741 runs at an impressive average of 57. In 19 Asia Cup games, he scored one hundred and six fifties.

8. Chaminda Vaas

Chaminda Vaas, a left-arm fast bowler and one of Sri Lanka's best fast bowlers, is ranked eighth. From 1995 to 2008, Vaas played in 19 Asia Cup matches for Sri Lanka, taking 23 wickets at an average of 27.78. With 20 maiden overs, he also holds the Asia Cup record for most maiden overs bowled.

9. Roshan Mahanama

Next, we have Roshan Mahanama, a right-handed batter from Colombo. Mahanama first featured in the Asia Cup in 1986 and played in 16 Asia Cup matches until 1997. In the 16 matches he played, he scored 273 runs at an average of 21, with the highest score of 55.

10. Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga, a right-arm fast bowler from Galle, is next on the list. Malinga was famous for his unorthodox sling-arm bowling and exceptional death bowling. He played in the Asia Cup from 2004 to 2008 in 14 matches and took 29 wickets at an impressive average of 20.55, with best bowling figures of five for 34. He has three five-wicket hauls in the Asia Cup, the most for any bowler in the Asia Cup.