Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Virat Kohli to Play Together? India and Pakistan Cricketers Could Feature in Same Team With ACA Keen on Bring Back Afro-Asia Cup: Report

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan don’t play bilateral cricket due to political tensions between the two countries. However, both nations compete against each other in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. Many cricket fans want India and Pakistan cricketers to play together at least once. In 2007, legendary cricketers like MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi, and Virender Sehwag played together in a tournament called the Afro-Asia Cup. Since then, India and Pakistan cricketers haven’t featured together in a team. Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in Same Team! Speculations High as Afro-Asia Cup Return Rumours Emerge

The Afro-Asia Cup has been played twice till now. The first edition was played in 2005 in South Africa, followed by the second in 2007 in India. The third edition, which was scheduled to be played in 2009 in Kenya, never took place, and since then the tournament hasn’t been played till now.

According to the latest report by ESPNcricinfo, the revival of the Afro-Asia Cup is on the cards, with a white-ball game being held between Asia XI and Africa XI.

The report further added that the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) held its AGM on Saturday, where they appointed a six-person interim committee to revive competitive tournaments in the region and reach out to organisations like the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and revive the Afro-Asia Cup. Jasprit Bumrah Should Captain India During BGT2024-25 If Rohit Sharma is Not Playing in IND vs AUS 1st Test: Sunil Gavaskar.

“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. 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,” Tavengwa Mukuhlani, interim chair of the ACA, who is also the Zimbabwe Cricket Chair, said at a press conference as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The ACA is also thinking about launching a mini-version of the Indian Premier League (IPL). “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. Once that comes together, we will go to the board, the board will okay it, and then we will take it from there,” according to CEO Cassim Suliman

“It’s the mini vision of the IPL. So we’re taking that concept of the IPL and driving that concept to ensure that everybody benefits in that aspect. As far as where we’re going to play, the board will decide. We’re going to look at facilities that are going to warrant spectator viewership. It’s still at the initial stage. Obviously, we want to do things right the first time to make sure we get the ball rolling on it. But the board will decide exactly who’s hosting and from there, we’ll take it to them from there. It’s going to be like the IPL format, but with a lower status and then we’ll grow it from there,” Cassim Suliman added.

(The above story first appeared on Pune Media on Nov 05, 2024 04:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website Pune Media.com).

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