The revival of the Afro-Asia Cup – a collection of white-ball matches performed between an Asian XI and an African XI – is on the playing cards in response to the Africa Cricket Affiliation (ACA). The continental physique held its AGM on Saturday, the place it appointed a six-person interim committee to restructure the ACA and enhance the variety of aggressive alternatives for gamers on the continent.
“The Afro-Asia Cup, aside from the cricket, brings the much-needed monetary enter to the organisation, and the urge for food is large from each ends,” Tavengwa Mukuhlani, interim chair of the ACA, who can be the Zimbabwe Cricket Chair, stated at a press convention. “We’ve had conversations with our counterparts throughout the Asia Cricket Council, and clearly our African contingents, they need the Afro-Asia Cup to be revived.”
Asian Cricket Council representatives had not responded to ESPNcricinfo on the time of publication in regards to the return of the Afro-Asia Cup, which has been dominated by Asia. In 2005, the three-match ODI collection was shared one-all after a rained out ultimate sport and in 2007, Asia XI gained all three matches.
The 2005 Asia squad was captained by Inzamam-ul-Haq and included Rahul Dravid, Ashish Nehra and Anil Kumble whereas the 2007 Asia XI squad included MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar alongside Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar. On the time, relations between India and Pakistan had been heat on and off the cricket subject, and the 2 nations performed common bilateral cricket. The 2008 Mumbai assaults modified that equation, nevertheless, and the perimeters have performed one white-ball bilateral collection since, in 2012-13. They’ve solely performed in ICC occasions in any other case, with Pakistan touring to India on a few events: India haven’t performed in Pakistan because the 2008 Asia Cup.
The ACA can be planning to launch a “mini model of the IPL,” in response to CEO Cassim Suliman, known as the Africa Premier League, although it stays within the planning part. “We’re planning to, after board approval, deliver the Africa Premier League. That is what we’re busy with for the time being on the sponsorship. As soon as that comes collectively, we are going to go to the board, the board will okay it, after which we are going to take it from there,” he stated. “It is the mini imaginative and prescient of the IPL. So we’re taking that idea of the IPL and driving that idea to make sure that everyone advantages in that facet. So far as the place we’ll play, the board will determine. We’ll have a look at amenities which can be going to warrant spectator viewership. It is nonetheless on the preliminary stage. Clearly, we need to do issues proper the primary time to ensure we get the ball rolling on it. However the board will determine precisely who’s internet hosting and from there, we’ll take it to them from there. It should be just like the IPL format, however with a decrease standing after which we’ll develop it from there.”
There may be at present just one franchise event in Africa, South Africa’s SA20, however Mukuhlani was hopeful {that a} South African franchise could possibly be concerned within the Africa Premier League and dedicated Zimbabwean gamers to the proposed event. “The participation of South Africa and Zimbabwe offers context to the competitors, and there may be additionally the expertise that the upcoming groups get from taking part in alongside gamers from South Africa and Zimbabwe,” he stated. “So sure, we are going to take part.”
