According to the Africa Cricket Association (ACA), the revival of the Afro-Asia Cup – a series of white-ball matches played between Asian XIs and African XIs – is on the cards. The continental body held its AGM on Saturday, where it appointed a six-member interim committee to restructure the ACA and increase the number of competitive opportunities for players on the continent.
ACA interim president Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who is also president of Zimbabwe Cricket, said, “Apart from cricket, the Afro-Asia Cup brings much-needed financial input to the organization and the appetite for it from both sides is very high.” Said at a press conference. “We have had talks with our counterparts within the Asia Cricket Council and obviously our African contingent, they want the Afro-Asia Cup to be revived.”
While ACC representatives did not respond to ESPNcricinfo at the time of publication regarding the return of the Afro-Asia Cup, it is learned that no formal request has been made to the ACC, nor was there any discussion on it at the body’s recent meeting. Has happened. in Malaysia. In 2005, the three-match ODI series was tied 1–1 after the final match was washed out due to rain and in 2007, Asia XI won all three matches.
The 2005 Asia team was captained by Inzamam-ul-Haq and included Rahul Dravid, Ashish Nehra and Anil Kumble, while the 2007 Asia XI team included MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar was included. Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Yusuf and Shoaib Akhtar. At that time, relations between India and Pakistan on and off the cricket field were cordial and both countries played regular bilateral cricket. However, the 2008 Mumbai attacks changed that equation, and the two sides have played a white-ball bilateral series in 2012–13. They have only played in ICC events otherwise, Pakistan has traveled to India on a few occasions: India have not played Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.
According to CEO Kasim Suleiman, the ACA is also planning to launch “a smaller version of the IPL”, to be called the Africa Premier League, although this is still in the planning stage. “We are planning to bring the Africa Premier League, after the board’s approval. At the moment we are busy on sponsorship. Once it comes together, we will go to the board, the board will approve it, and then we will Will take it from there,” he said. “This is a short view of the IPL. So we are taking that concept of IPL and taking that concept forward to make sure that everyone benefits in that aspect. As far as where we are going to play, the board will decide. We’re going to look at features that will ensure viewership. It’s still in the early stages, we want to make sure we get things right the first time, but the board will decide who is actually hosting and from there, we will take it from there to them, this IPL format. “Like it would be, but with fewer positions and then we’ll grow it from there.”
There is currently only one franchise tournament in Africa, South Africa’s SA20, but Mukuhlani hoped that a South African franchise could join the Africa Premier League and committed Zimbabwean players to the proposed tournament. “The participation of South Africa and Zimbabwe gives context to the competition and also gives the visiting teams the experience of playing with South African and Zimbabwean players,” he said. “So yes, we will attend.”
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