The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is planning to restart the Afro-Asian Cup in the T20 format from 2023 onwards, which could be a dream come true for cricket fans from both India and Pakistan.
The political tensions between the two countries have spilled over into cricket, limiting bilateral series between the two countries. Only ICC and ACC tournaments are played between the two sides, with India having a significant advantage over Pakistan in World Cup tournaments.
The Afro-Asian Cup was held in India and South Africa in 2005 and 2007, with stars from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka competing for the Asia team, and South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe competing for the Africa team.
India and Pakistan cricketers set to team up in a reboot of the Afro-Asia Cup
With the Afro-Asia Cup set to return in the T20 format in June-July 2023, players from India and Pakistan could be playing in the same team, according to reports. There is no word on how the tournament will take place.
However, since the ICC Board Meeting in April this year, discussions are said to be taking place between BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah, the new chairman of the African Cricket Association Sumod Damodar, and ACC chairman of the development committee Mahinda Vallipuram, who is also an Associate Member director on the ICC board.
“We haven’t got confirmation from the boards yet. We are still working on the white paper and it will be submitted to both boards. But our plan is for the best players from India and Pakistan to be playing in the Asian XI. Once plans are finalized we will go into the market for sponsorship and a broadcaster. It will be a massive event. Really, really big,” ACC head of commercial and events Prabhakaran Thanraj said.
“I would love to see the opportunity to build the bridge and allow the players to play together. I’m sure the players want it to happen and to keep the politics away from it. It would be a beautiful thing to see players from Pakistan and India playing on the same team,” Sumod Damodar said.
Rain interrupted the third and final ODI in the 2005 edition, resulting in a 1-1 tie, while the 2007 edition featured one T20 match and three ODIs. Asia XI thrashed African XI in one-day internationals and also won a T20 match that was neither an official Twenty20 international nor a regular Twenty20 match.
