Afro-Asia Cup Set for Revival After Nearly Two Decades

The Afro-Asia Cup, a unique white-ball series played between an Asian XI and an African XI, is set to make a return after almost 20 years, according to the Africa Cricket Association (ACA). The announcement was made following the ACA's AGM, where a six-person interim committee was appointed to restructure the body and increase competitive opportunities for African players. One of their key objectives is to reach out to organizations like the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and revive cross-continental events such as the Afro-Asia Cup.

The tournament was last played in 2007 in India, with the first edition held in 2005 in South Africa. A planned third edition in 2009 in Kenya was canceled. The revival of the tournament could create an unprecedented opportunity for players from India and Pakistan to play on the same team, as the two nations have not participated in bilateral cricket since 2012 due to strained political relations. The competition's potential to bring together players from both countries is seen as a significant step in fostering unity within the cricketing world.

Tavengwa Mukuhlani, interim chair of the ACA, expressed his excitement, noting that there is a high demand from both Africa and Asia for the revival of the tournament. “The Afro-Asia Cup brings not only the excitement of cricket but also financial benefits to both organizations. Conversations with counterparts in the Asia Cricket Council show a strong desire to bring back the competition,” Mukuhlani said.

The 2005 series between the teams ended in a 1-1 draw after the final match was rained out, while the 2007 edition saw the Asia XI sweep all three matches. Past Asia XI squads included legends like MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Sachin Tendulkar, while the African team boasted players like Inzamam-ul-Haq and Ashish Nehra.

In addition to the Afro-Asia Cup, the ACA is planning to introduce the Africa Premier League, a "mini version of the IPL," which is still in the planning stages. The tournament will be similar to the Indian Premier League but with a lower status. Plans for the league are being carefully developed, with a focus on ensuring its long-term success.

While South Africa currently hosts the SA20 franchise tournament, there are hopes to involve South African teams in the Africa Premier League, adding further context and experience to the competition. The ACA is committed to including Zimbabwean players, ensuring strong regional participation.