The Afro-Asia Cup—a series of white-ball matches featuring an Asian XI against an African XI—could be set for revival, according to a report by ESPN Cricinfo. If the cross-continental tournament is officially reinstated, it would provide an opportunity for players from India and Pakistan to share the same dressing room.
The tournament was last held in 2007, featuring players from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other Asian nations, while South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya represented Africa.
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If the Afro-Asia Cup is revived, it is expected that up to 80% of media rights revenue will be directed to the Africa Cricket Association, providing big boost to cricket development in the region.
Alongside the revival of Afro-Asia Cup, Africa Cricket Association (ACA) is also aiming to establish a shortened version of Indian Premier League (IPL). CEO Qasim Suleman, Chairman of the ACA, reportedly plans to introduce Africa Premier League pending board approval. Currently, their focus is on securing sponsorships, and once those are in place, they will seek board approval to move the initiative forward.
The Afro-Asia Cup was launched in 2005, featuring a three-match ODI series that ended in a 1-1 tie, with one match washed out due to rain. In the following tournament in 2007, Asia XI emerged victorious, winning all three matches. The tournament was suspended after 2008 because of the deteriorating geopolitical relations between India and Pakistan.
In 2005, Inzamam-ul-Haq captained Asia XI, which included prominent players such as Rahul Dravid, Ashish Nehra, and Anil Kumble. By 2007, the team had added stars like MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Yousuf, and Shoaib Akhtar to its roster.
Almost two decades later, there is a renewed optimism surrounding the potential return of the Afro-Asia Cup.