The Afro-Asia Cup, a unique cross-continental cricket series, may soon return, following an announcement from the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) on Tuesday.
The ACA, during its recent AGM, introduced an interim committee to spearhead efforts to expand competitive opportunities in African cricket, with a strong focus on reviving the Afro-Asia Cup.
The potential return of the tournament, which was last held in 2007, would bring together an Asia XI and an Africa XI for white-ball matches.
The Afro-Asia Cup was first played in 2005 in South Africa, followed by a second edition in India in 2007. Both tournaments featured top players from India, Pakistan, and across Africa, creating memorable line-ups and thrilling encounters. However, a scheduled 2009 edition was cancelled, and the tournament has remained dormant ever since.
Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who is ACA’s interim chair, highlighted the strong interest from both the ACA and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in reviving the tournament.
“The Afro-Asia Cup, apart from the cricket, brings the much-needed financial input to the organization, and the appetite is huge from both ends,” Mukuhlani remarked 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.”
IF (and that’s a big if) the tournament does return, it could potentially see Indian and Pakistani players as part of a single squad.
However, seen from this perch, and Mukuhlani’s comments on interest from the ACC on reviving the series notwithstanding, “high hopes and low expectations” would appear the best course to take.
