The Afro-Asia Cup, a once-prominent cricket competition pitting teams from Asia and Africa against each other, is poised for a comeback after nearly two decades of dormancy. The tournament, last held in 2007, was a rare chance for cricket fans to witness some of the finest players from two continents face off in white-ball matches. Now, with support from the Africa Cricket Association (ACA), the competition could be revived as early as next year.
The announcement comes after the ACA held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, during which it appointed a six-person interim committee tasked with restructuring the organization and increasing the number of competitive opportunities for African cricketers. Among the key initiatives discussed was the revival of the Afro-Asia Cup, an event that has long been on the wish list of cricket fans in both Africa and Asia.
Tavengwa Mukuhlani, interim chair of the ACA and current Zimbabwe Cricket chair, emphasized the tournament’s potential to provide not just high-quality cricket, but much-needed financial input to the sport across Africa. “We’ve had conversations with our counterparts within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), and obviously with our African contingents, and there is a strong desire to bring back the Afro-Asia Cup,” Mukuhlani said at a press conference following the AGM.
The tournament originally featured a series of One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between two select teams — the Asia XI and the Africa XI — with each side composed of top players from their respective continents. The first edition of the Afro-Asia Cup took place in South Africa in 2005, while the second was held in India in 2007. The third edition, scheduled for 2009 in Kenya, was canceled and the tournament has not taken place since.
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If the tournament does return, it presents the unique prospect of India and Pakistan’s top players, who have not played against each other in a bilateral series for over a decade due to strained political relations, potentially being teammates for the first time. Players like India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan could be side-by-side in an Asia XI, offering a fresh dimension to their rivalry and a rare moment of cricketing camaraderie. This is significant as the two countries have only met in ICC events since the 2008 Mumbai attacks and have not played a bilateral series since 2012.
The 2005 and 2007 editions of the Afro-Asia Cup were highly anticipated events, with star-studded lineups. In 2005, the Asia XI was captained by Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq and included cricketing legends like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Ashish Nehra. The 2007 squad, led by India’s Sourav Ganguly, featured MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan, alongside Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif. The 2007 series ended with the Asia XI sweeping a 3-match ODI series, after a rain-affected 1-1 draw in the 2005 edition.
While the ACA has been vocal about its interest in reviving the Afro-Asia Cup, discussions with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have yet to yield a formal agreement. As of now, no official request has been made to the ACC for the tournament’s return, and it remains unclear whether the competition will be incorporated into the international cricket calendar in the near future. However, the enthusiasm within the ACA and among African and Asian cricket communities suggests the event could see a revival sooner rather than later.
Beyond the Afro-Asia Cup, the ACA is also looking to bolster the profile of African cricket with the creation of a new tournament, the Africa Premier League. Designed as a “mini version” of India’s popular IPL, the competition will bring together top franchise players from Africa and could involve teams from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and potentially other African nations. ACA CEO Cassim Suliman confirmed that plans for the Africa Premier League are still in the early stages, with a focus on securing sponsorship and ensuring the competition has the necessary infrastructure to attract significant viewership.
“Once we get board approval, we’ll move forward with the Africa Premier League,” Suliman said. “The concept is based on the IPL, and we want to ensure it benefits everyone involved. We’re looking at creating something that grows organically.”
The success of South Africa’s SA20 league, which has garnered attention in recent years, could serve as a model for the Africa Premier League, which aims to boost African cricket while offering a platform for domestic players to showcase their skills alongside international stars.
While the Africa Premier League is still in its formative stages, Mukuhlani is optimistic about its future, stressing the importance of South Africa and Zimbabwe’s participation to lend credibility and attract other regional players. “The involvement of South Africa and Zimbabwe gives context to the competition and provides young players with invaluable experience,” he added.
As both the Afro-Asia Cup and Africa Premier League take shape, the next few years could mark a period of growth and increased international exposure for African cricket, as well as provide a rare opportunity for players from rival nations like India and Pakistan to unite on the same team.