Afro-Asia Cup Revival on the Cards as Africa Cricket Association Plans Bold Future

The revival of the much-anticipated Afro-Asia Cup could be on the horizon, as the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) looks to create more competitive opportunities for players across the continent. The ACA’s move follows its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, where it announced the formation of a six-person interim committee tasked with restructuring the association and increasing cricketing activity in Africa.

A major focus of the ACA’s plans is to re-engage with key global cricket bodies, particularly the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), to explore cross-continental tournaments, including the return of the Afro-Asia Cup. This tournament, which has been played only twice before, once in South Africa (2005) and again in India (2007), could make a comeback nearly two decades later. A third edition, initially planned for 2009 in Kenya, was cancelled, but the ACA is optimistic about resuming the series.

The Afro-Asia Cup, which features an Asian XI facing off against an African XI, holds a special appeal. If revived, it could also provide a rare opportunity for cricketers from India and Pakistan to play together, given the current hiatus in bilateral cricket between the two nations. This could potentially include players from both countries forming part of the same Asia XI team—an exciting prospect for fans worldwide.

Tavengwa Mukuhlani, interim chair of the ACA and Zimbabwe Cricket chair, expressed his enthusiasm about the tournament’s potential, highlighting both its cricketing and financial benefits. “The Afro-Asia Cup, apart from the cricket, brings the much-needed financial input to the organisation, and the appetite is huge from both ends,” he said during a press conference. “We have had conversations with our counterparts within the Asia Cricket Council, and obviously our African contingents, they want the Afro-Asia Cup to be revived.”

However, while Mukuhlani and other ACA officials are keen on resurrecting the tournament, ACC representatives have yet to comment on the matter. According to sources, no formal request has been made to the ACC, and the topic was not discussed during the body’s recent meeting in Malaysia.

The Afro-Asia Cup was first held in 2005, where the series was shared 1-1 after a rain-affected final. In 2007, the Asia XI triumphed 3-0. Some of the biggest names in cricket played in the 2005 and 2007 editions, including the likes of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, and Virender Sehwag. The 2005 series took place in South Africa, and in 2007, the tournament was hosted by India. At the time, relations between India and Pakistan were relatively warm, with the two nations regularly playing bilateral series, which would later be impacted by the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Since then, the two countries have only faced each other in ICC events.

Africa Premier League: ACA's New Ambitious Project

Alongside plans for the Afro-Asia Cup, the ACA is also working on launching a new domestic franchise competition, dubbed the Africa Premier League (APL). Inspired by the success of India’s IPL, the APL is envisioned as a "mini version" of the IPL and is currently in the planning stage.

“We are planning to, after board approval, bring the Africa Premier League. That’s what we're busy with at the moment on the sponsorship,” said Cassim Suliman, CEO of the ACA. “Once that comes together, we will go to the board, the board will okay it, and then we will take it from there. It’s going to be like the IPL format, but with a lower status and then we’ll grow it from there.”

The tournament, still in its early stages, aims to attract global sponsors and players, with a focus on making it a sustainable competition. While the specifics of the league’s host cities and locations are still to be decided, the board is prioritizing facilities that will ensure high spectator engagement and top-tier playing conditions.

The Africa Premier League would be a significant addition to the region’s cricketing landscape, offering African cricketers more exposure and competitive opportunities. At present, South Africa’s SA20 is the only major franchise competition on the continent, but Mukuhlani expressed his hope that a South African franchise could participate in the APL. He also confirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the new league, adding, “The participation of South Africa and Zimbabwe gives context to the competition, and there is also the experience that the upcoming teams get from playing alongside players from South Africa and Zimbabwe.”

The launch of the APL is seen as a key step in growing African cricket, improving its profile, and providing players across the continent with more high-level cricketing opportunities.

Looking Ahead:

The ACA’s plans for the Afro-Asia Cup and the Africa Premier League are ambitious, but they reflect a broader vision for the future of African cricket. If the Afro-Asia Cup is revived, it will be a major milestone in strengthening cricketing ties between Asia and Africa, while the APL could potentially become a significant player in the global franchise cricket landscape. With both initiatives in the works, the ACA’s commitment to advancing African cricket is clearer than ever.