Discussions have been round about reviving the Afro-Asia Cup, a prestigious event beforehand held twice within the mid-2000s.
This information comes after Jay Shah’s current appointment as Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) chair and ongoing adjustments within the board and Chief Executives’ Committee.
Mixed groups from Asia and Africa performed worldwide video games throughout the Afro-Asia Cup. Indian and Pakistan cricketers, equivalent to MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Shahid Afridi, and Shoaib Akhtar, performed collectively on this marquee occasion, which was performed in 2005 and 2007.
Asia XI comprised gamers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Gamers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya have been picked to type the Africa XI.
A 3-match ODI collection ended 1-1 in 2005. Asia XI received the lone T20I match and the three-match ODI collection to finish a clear sweep.
The Cup was deserted as a result of geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan and broadcasting points.
There have been earlier plans to revive the event in a T20 format in 2023, however they didn’t materialize. Nevertheless, Forbes reported that there’s a probability the occasion could possibly be revived.
The event was deliberate to be performed in mid-2023 in a T20 format, with gamers from Affiliate nations.
Nevertheless, these plans fell by means of as a result of points throughout the African Cricket Affiliation (ACA). South Africa and Zimbabwe have stepped in to stabilize the ACA and cricket growth.
There Was Not Enough Momentum – Sumod Damodar On Afro-Asia Cup
As per the newest report in Forbes, former Africa Cricket Affiliation (ACA) chair Sumod Damodar expressed remorse over not pushing strongly for the return of the Afro-Asia Cup.
He admitted that the lack of expertise throughout the ACA hindered the revival of the event.
“Personally, I’m very damage that it (Afro-Asia Cup) didn’t occur. There was not sufficient momentum by means of the ACA, however it’s being checked out once more. I believe it was mainly a lack of expertise and never shopping for into the idea. Our members are regretting it. It wanted to be pushed by Africa,” Damodar advised Forbes.
Damodar is optimistic that the brand new ICC chairman Jay Shah and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head of growth Mahinda Vallipuram might assist revive the Afro-Asia Cup. He said that they’ve been proactive in supporting the event’s return.
“With Mahinda now on the ICC board and Jay Shah operating the ICC, that might deliver a bit extra momentum to this trigger. Each of them have all the time been proactive in making an attempt to make this occur,” Damodar mentioned.
These Match Might Break Down Limitations – Sumod Damodar
Sumod Damodar believes that stars like Virat Kohli and Babar Azam within the Afro-Asia Cup might break down political limitations and foster constructive relations. He added that gamers are typically not antagonistic in the direction of one another and could be desirous to take part.
“These matches might break down limitations which can be there politically. Cricket will help construct the bridges reasonably than burn it up. I do not personally consider that gamers are antagonistic in opposition to one another, so I am certain they’d be up for it,” Damodar commented.
Stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, together with Pakistani gamers equivalent to Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi, might function in an Asian XI if the Afro-Asia Cup is efficiently revived.
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