In cricket a great catch can change the game. While batting and bowling gets all the attention, outstanding fielding can be just as important. The Asia Cup T20 has had its share of such game-changing moments thanks to some amazing fielders. Let’s look at top fielders who took most catches in Asia Cup T 20 History.
Most catches in T20 Asia Cup:
| Player | Span | Mat | Catches | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Hayat (HKG) | 2016-2022 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Soumya Sarkar (BAN) | 2016 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| P Nissanka (SL) | 2022 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed (PAK) | 2016-2022 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Fahad Tariq (UAE) | 2016 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| AD Mathews (SL) | 2016 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| CK Kapugedera (SL) | 2016 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| PW Hasaranga (SL) | 2022 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Sabbir Rahman (BAN) | 2016-2022 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Mahmudullah (BAN) | 2016-2022 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Mohammad Nawaz (PAK) | 2016-2022 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
1. Babar Hayat (Hong Kong) – 6 Catches in 5 Matches
Catch-to-match ratio: 1.2
Runs scored: 194
Babar Hayat was the star of Hong Kong, not just with the bat but also in the field. One of his best catches was during the 2016 Asia Cup against Bangladesh. He took a diving catch at long-on to dismiss Sabbir Rahman which gave Hong Kong a boost. Hayat was one of the top run scorers among the associate nation players in the tournament.
2. Soumya Sarkar (Bangladesh) – 6 Catches in 5 Matches
Catch-to-match ratio: 1.2
Runs scored: 48 | Wickets taken: 2
Soumya Sarkar’s best moment in the field was against Pakistan in 2016. He took a low catch that was tumbling away from him to send Shahid Afridi back to the pavilion. This helped Bangladesh reach the final. He didn’t score a lot of runs but his all-round skills, especially his fielding was valuable to the team.
3. Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) – 5 Catches in 6 Matches
Catch-to-match ratio: 0.833
Runs scored: 173
Pathum Nissanka took a crucial catch in the final of the Asia Cup 2022. He held on to a high catch at deep midwicket to dismiss Mohammad Nawaz of Pakistan. This was a game changer for Sri Lanka. He was also one of the top scorers for the team, proving his importance to the team in multiple ways.
4. Iftikhar Ahmed (Pakistan) – 5 Catches in 7 Matches
Catch-to-match ratio: 0.714
Runs scored: 105 | Wickets taken: 2
Iftikhar Ahmed’s fielding was often under the radar but important. One of his best was the sharp catch at backward point to dismiss Kusal Mendis in 2022. It was a game changer. His quiet but effective all-round play went unnoticed.
5. Fahad Tariq (UAE) – 4 Catches in 3 Matches
Catch-to-match ratio: 1.33
Wickets taken: 3
Fahad Tariq was a revelation. Playing for UAE against Sri Lanka, he jumped at midwicket to catch Dinesh Chandimal out. That catch was replayed multiple times during the tournament. He also took wickets and showed his worth to the UAE team.
6. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – 4 Catches in 3 Matches
Catch-to-match ratio: 1.33
Runs scored: 88 | Wickets taken: 1
Angelo Mathews showed his experience when he took a pressure catch to dismiss MS Dhoni in 2016, something not many can claim. His calm head and safe hands made him a vital part of the Sri Lankan team, as a leader and as a player.
