Fans from every continent are thrilled by the return of the Afro-Asia Cup to the international cricket calendar. This year’s tournament, which has not been played for nearly 20 years, appears to be an important opportunity to honor cricket’s past and showcase the emerging talents of Asia and Africa.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the African Cricket Association (ACA), the two cricket boards from both continents, have announced that they are working together on plans to bring back the historic series. The ACA has announced plans to relaunch the Afro-Asia Cup, a series of white-ball matches between an Asian XI and an African XI.
At its Annual General Meeting (AGM), the continental body formed a six-member interim committee to restructure the ACA and expand the amount of competitive opportunities for players across the continent.
Planning the Comeback: Preparations and Challenges
The ACC, ACA, and other national boards had to work together and organize a massive event to bring the Afro-Asian Cup back. Despite the challenges posed by the busy international cricket schedule and coordination between so many countries, the boards are dedicated to making the occasion unforgettable. “This tournament represents a reunion of cricket cultures and will create a spectacle that will resonate beyond the game,” said ACA CEO Cassim Suliman.
Afro-Asia Cup: A Potential Platform for India-Pakistan Cricket Unity
One of the aims of the series is to approach other organizations, including the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), and explore inter-continental opportunities like the Afro-Asia Cup. Only two tournaments have been held before, in South Africa in 2005 and in India in 2007. A third edition, scheduled to take place in Kenya in 2009, never happened, but it could happen in about twenty years.
Players from India and Pakistan, who currently do not play bilateral cricket against each other, would have the rare opportunity to feature in the same Asia XI team if the tournament were to take place again.
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“In addition to cricket, the Afro-Asia Cup gives the organization much-needed financial support, and both parties are very interested in it,” ACA interim president and Zimbabwe Cricket president Tavengwa Mukuhlani said at a press conference. “Our conversations with representatives from the Asia Cricket Council have made it clear that our African counterparts strongly support the return of the Afro-Asia Cup.”
Although ACC officials did not respond to ESPN cricinfo when asked about the return of the Afro-Asia Cup, it is learned that the ACC has not received any formal request for the event, nor was it discussed during the organization’s most recent meeting in Malaysia. In 2005, the three-match ODI series was tied 1-1 after the final match was washed out due to rain. However, in 2007, Asia XI won all three matches.
Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Ashish Nehra were all part of the 2005 Asia team, which was captained by Inzamam-ul-Haq. Apart from Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammed Asif, and Shoaib Akhtar, the 2007 Asia XI team included Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, and Sourav Ganguly.
India and Pakistan played bilateral cricket frequently during that time, and their relations were cordial both on and off the cricket field. However, the 2008 Mumbai attacks changed that equation, and the teams have played only one bilateral white-ball series since 2012–2013. Apart from playing in ICC tournaments, they have toured India only a few times; India have not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.
Africa Premier League on the Cards: A New Era for African Cricket
According to CEO Cassim Suliman, the ACA also plans to launch the Africa Premier League, “a smaller version of the IPL,” although this is still in the planning stage. “We intend to launch the Africa Premier League as soon as we receive board approval. Right now we are working on that aspect of sponsorship.
Once everything is in place, we will approach the board, get their approval, and then move ahead,” he said. “To make sure that everyone can enjoy the benefits, we are advancing the IPL concept. The board will decide on where we will play. We will explore the facilities that will be able to draw spectators.”
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Although South Africa’s SA20 is currently the only franchise league in Africa, Mukuhlani is hopeful that a South African team can participate in the Africa Premier League and has promised to involve Zimbabwean players in the new tournament.
The Future of the Afro-Asia Cup: A Recurring Event?
If the Afro-Asia Cup is a success in 2024, there is potential for it to become a recurring feature on the international cricket calendar. The boards are reportedly considering options for a T20 format to complement the ODI series, tapping into the popularity of the shorter format, which has a strong global fan base. The T20 edition could allow for an annual series, making it easier to fit within the packed schedules of the cricketing world.
Having a regular Afro-Asia Cup would provide emerging players with consistent high-level exposure and encourage greater investment in cricket infrastructure in both continents. However, balancing scheduling with other international events like the ICC World Cup, T20 World Cup, and franchise leagues will be a key factor in determining the frequency of future tournaments.
Fan reactions: anticipation and excitement
The news of the return of the Afro-Asia Cup has thrilled cricket fans. There is much discussion and speculation on social media over potential teams, potential matches, and the overall impact on cricket’s worldwide appeal. In addition, fans are thrilled at the prospect of seeing players from different countries playing together, which is unusual in international cricket but common in franchise leagues.
Many prominent cricketers gave their reactions regarding the return of the tournament. Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag uploaded a post on social media saying that the Afro-Asia Cup is a great opportunity to see the best players of two continents together. On the other hand, South Africa’s AB de Villiers also expressed his excitement.
He said that the resumption of the tournament will definitely inspire young players from both Asia and Africa.