The Afro-Asia Cup is set to be revived, providing a platform for cricketers from Africa and Asia, including a rare opportunity for India and Pakistan to play together since their last bilateral series in 2008.
New Delhi: The Afro-Asia Cup, featuring a contest between an African XI and an Asia XI, is set for revival as confirmed by the Africa Cricket Association (ACA). During its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, the ACA established a six-member interim committee to explore ways to enhance opportunities for cricketers from both continents.
The tournament’s inaugural edition was held in 2005 in South Africa, followed by India’s hosting of the championship in 2007. Although Kenya was slated to host the 2009 edition, it ultimately did not take place for undisclosed reasons.
“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, said in a press conference, ESPNcricinfo reported.
“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,” Mukuhlani, who’s also the Zimbabwe Cricket Chair, added.
Should the Afro-Asia Cup proceed, it would provide a unique opportunity for cricketers from India and Pakistan to share the same playing XI. Since January 2013, the two nations have only faced each other in ICC and ACC events, with no bilateral series taking place. India’s last visit to Pakistan was for the Asia Cup in 2008.
In the inaugural 2005 Afro-Asia Cup, the three-match series concluded with a 1-1 draw, as the final match was abandoned. The tournament featured notable players such as Virender Sehwag, Shahid Afridi, and Sanath Jayasuriya, with Inzamam-ul-Haq captaining the squad. Other significant names included Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Ashish Nehra.
In 2007, Asia emerged victorious in the Afro-Asia Cup, clinching the series with a convincing 3-0 win. The Asian squad included prominent players such as Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Asif, and Mohammed Yousuf, alongside Indian stars like Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, and Harbhajan Singh.
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