Kolkata : The iconic tournament Afro Asia Cup is reportedly set to be revived after 2 decades.
The Afro Asia Cup was a 3 Match White Ball series played between Asian XI & Africa XI, comprising players in both the teams from respective continents. For instance, Asia XI comprised players from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka playing together while Africa XI saw players from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya playing together.
In an AGM of African Cricket Association (ACA), they discussed various issues regarding restructuring of ACA and increase the number of competitive opportunities for players on the continent.
The Afro Asia Cup revival was one of those issues discussed in the meeting. The ACA also plans to reach out to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) & other necessary organizations for revival of the iconic tournament.
“The Afro-Asia Cup, apart from the cricket, brings the much-needed financial input to the organisation, and the appetite is huge from both ends,” Tavengwa Mukuhlani, interim chair of the ACA, who is also the Zimbabwe Cricket Chair, said at a press conference. “We have had conversations with our counterparts within the Asia Cricket Council, and obviously our African contingents, they want the Afro-Asia Cup to be revived.”
However, it is learned that no formal request has been made to the ACC, neither has any discussion around this taken place at the body’s recent meeting in Malaysia. Another report says, although there’s no official dates announced, it could only be started after end of ICC World Test Championship 2025 , in June.
The tournament was held previously 2 times – 2005 & 2007 in South Africa and India respectively. A 3rd edition was said to be held in 2009 in Kenya but was scrapped. Since then, no seasons were held. It was then removed from Cricket’s FTP.
This tournament provided opportunities for players of arch rivals India and Pakistan play together in same team.
Previously, players like Shoaib Akthar, Shoaib Malik, Inzamam Ul Haq, Md Yousuf, Md Asif, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Md Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Virendra Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and so on played together in same team.
Equations changed after 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks held by Pakistani terrorists and the relations between 2 nations deteriorated. Therefore, this tournament was also scrapped.
Both the teams don’t play bilateral series now and only meet in ICC events. Therefore, this tournament will also provide opportunities for fans to witness the arch rivals unitedly playing for one team and battling it out for win.
In 2005 , the 3 Match series was shared 1-1 & in 2007, Asia XI whitewashed Africa XI 3-0.
A revival of the tournament will see fans witness this iconic Afro Asia Cup battle once again, as they can witness players like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Jasprit Bumrah, Shaheen Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Matheesha Pathirana, etc play together in same team.
