During the mid-2000s, a combined Asian XI took on an Africa XI in a series of international matches that saw fierce rivals India and Pakistan turning friends with cricketers MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar among others teaming up. The series of matches were held in 2005 and 2007 with the tournament being called ‘Afro-Asia Cup’. It certainly was a novel idea that saw top cricketers joining forces to represent their respective continents.
Players from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were picked to form an Asia XI while the Africa XI comprised cricketers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
In 2005, a three-match ODI series was held which ended 1-1. Two years later, the competition returned for a second time and expanded to include a T20I as well. Asia XI completed a clean sweep winning the lone T20I and the ODI series 3-0.
However, due to geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan along with broadcasting issues, the competition was abandoned.
There were reports earlier that plans are afoot to reboot the competition with potential return in 2023 in T20 format. Nothing came of it though but as per a latest report in Forbes, there’s a possibility that the competition could be revived.
Former Africa Cricket Association (ACA) chair Sumod Damodar says though they regret not pushing hard enough for Afro-Asia Cup’s return earlier, it’s now “being looked at again.”
“Personally, I am very hurt that it (Afro-Asia Cup) didn’t happen. There was not adequate momentum through the ACA, but it is being looked at again. I think it was basically a lack of understanding and not buying into the concept. Our members are regretting it. It needed to be pushed by Africa,” Damodar told Forbes.
Should the efforts come to fruition, an Asian XI could feature the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah rubbing shoulders with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi.
Damodar is hopeful that new ICC chairman Jay Shah and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head of development Mahinda Vallipuram could play a key role in this regard.
“With Mahinda now on the ICC board and Jay Shah running the ICC, that could bring a bit more momentum to this cause. Both of them have always been proactive in trying to make this happen,” Damodar said.
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