The Afro-Asia Cup, a series of charity matches between Asian XI and African XI, is set to make a comeback after a decade-long hiatus. The tournament, first played in 2005 and again in 2007, featured legendary players from both continents, including Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Zaheer Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Anil Kumble, Shahid Afridi, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, and Tatenda Taibu.
According to a report in Forbes, the Afro-Asia Cup is being revived due to renewed interest from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the African Cricket Association (ACA). Former ACA chair Sumod Damodar expressed his disappointment over the tournament’s previous cancellation and emphasized the need for Africa to push for its revival.
The return of the Afro-Asia Cup could pave the way for unprecedented collaborations between players from India and Pakistan, who have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13. The tournament could also help bridge political barriers between the two nations, as cricket has the power to unite people.
In 2022, a proposal to restart the tournament was discussed between ACC chair Jay Shah, then ACA chair Sumod Damodar, and ACC head of development Mahinda Vallipuram. With Vallipuram’s recent re-election to the ICC board, there is renewed optimism that the Afro-Asia Cup will be revived.
The tournament’s return would not only provide a platform for exciting cricket but also promote unity and understanding between Asia and Africa. It would be a testament to the power of sports to transcend boundaries and bring people together.
