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In a rare occurrence, amid a “massive event” hoped to foster better relations between the bitter rivals, star cricketers from foes India and Pakistan are set to play on the same team as part of a reboot of the Afro-Asia Cup earmarked for mid-2023.
Frosty government relations and political differences between the neighboring countries have spilled over into cricket, where the sport’s most passionate rivalry sadly only occurs in ICC events such as World Cups.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was in 2012-13 and they haven’t played Tests against each other since 2007 even though there is now the advent of the so-called World Test Championship.
PROMOTED
Pakistani cricketers don’t play in the financial behemoth Indian Premier League, while Indians are absent from the Pakistan Super League. In other words, it’s very rare to see players from these countries on the same field and every time they do it’s an absolute money-spinner attracting record television ratings.
The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The San Francisco 49ers
It’s little wonder World Cup formats have been purposely reconfigured over the years to ensure that India and Pakistan play each other.
While there is tumult between the countries which flows on to the boards, administrators know the huge windfall if the teams play each other and the wider associated benefits.
The Asia Cup, which hasn’t been held since 2018, is set to be played annually - flipping between T20 and ODI formats - to ensure the lucrative India and Pakistan contests become just a little bit more regular.
Tapping back into the past is the planned revival of the Afro-Asia Cup - which was played in 2005 and 2007 before petering out due to broadcast and political issues - resulting in the potential for Pakistani and Indian cricketers uniting in a showpiece event part of a rebrand from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) led by India’s governing body boss Jay Shah.
Back in the mid-2000s, the Asian XI featured Pakistan stars Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi rubbing shoulders with India counterparts Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, while the African XI was a mix of players from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
The updated version, played in the T20 format, is earmarked for June-July next year with discussions snowballing at April’s ICC board meeting between Shah, new chairman of African Cricket Association Sumod Damodar and ACC chairman of development committee Mahinda Vallipuram, who is also an Associate Member director on the ICC board.
Further discussions are set for next month’s ICC Annual General Meeting, where the Afro-Asia Cup - along with a slew of ACC initiatives aiming to develop women’s, Associates and junior cricket - is likely to be officially ratified and a host potentially determined.
There is, of course, the possibility of the traditionally bickering boards not coming to the party but, right now, hopes are high. “We haven’t got confirmation from the boards yet,” ACC head of commercial and events Prabhakaran Thanraj told me. “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 market for sponsorship and a broadcaster.
“It will be a massive event. Really, really big.”
If all goes to plan, it could represent a thawing between the boards of India and Pakistan. "I would love to see the opportunity to build the bridge and allow the players to play together,” said Damodar who is on the influential Chief Executives’ Committee and is contemplating running for next month’s Associate Member Directors contest for coveted spots on the all-powerful ICC board.
“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.”
The plan is for the Afro-Asia Cup to become an annual fixture and also feature players from Associate nations. "The Afro-Asia Cup is a premium product and from a revenue perspective that's where we would generate more income,” said Damodar. “What we pump back can go back to the members, particularly in Africa which needs more support.
"Africa has a lot to benefit because Asia is a powerhouse. It's a relationship I was keen to foster and develop.”
Unlike in the mid-2000s, which was all about the headline act, pathways will be established to include U16 and U19 Afro-Asia Cups to mimic a growing ACC, which is set to soon unveil new initiatives, including U19 Women’s Asia Cup, U13 and U16 Asia Junior Cup and ACC West and East Cups for Associates to qualify for Asia Cups.
“It’s an opportunity to grow players across the region through emerging pathways,” said Vallipuram, the ex-Malaysian cricket boss who will recontest his position on the ICC board.
“It’s all about preparing players and giving them right kinds of exposure. The ACC sees itself to prepare and develop and give all countries a chance to play not only within Asia but also on the world stage.
“We recognize the monetization and commercialization of these properties will help us put funds back into cricket.”
It will surely all add to a tightening of an already cramped cricket calendar, likely to be further squeezed by an expanded Indian Premier League, but the BCCI is invested in the bold ACC plans led by a determined Shah, who is looming as a potential candidate for the ICC chair election later this year.
“We have reactivated the whole Asian Cricket Council to see what we can do with this property,” Thanraj said. “We also want to give confidence to the upcoming cricket nations and develop cricket broadly.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trista...-reboot-of-the-afro-asia-cup/?sh=2de243787466
Frosty government relations and political differences between the neighboring countries have spilled over into cricket, where the sport’s most passionate rivalry sadly only occurs in ICC events such as World Cups.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was in 2012-13 and they haven’t played Tests against each other since 2007 even though there is now the advent of the so-called World Test Championship.
PROMOTED
Pakistani cricketers don’t play in the financial behemoth Indian Premier League, while Indians are absent from the Pakistan Super League. In other words, it’s very rare to see players from these countries on the same field and every time they do it’s an absolute money-spinner attracting record television ratings.
The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The San Francisco 49ers
It’s little wonder World Cup formats have been purposely reconfigured over the years to ensure that India and Pakistan play each other.
While there is tumult between the countries which flows on to the boards, administrators know the huge windfall if the teams play each other and the wider associated benefits.
The Asia Cup, which hasn’t been held since 2018, is set to be played annually - flipping between T20 and ODI formats - to ensure the lucrative India and Pakistan contests become just a little bit more regular.
Tapping back into the past is the planned revival of the Afro-Asia Cup - which was played in 2005 and 2007 before petering out due to broadcast and political issues - resulting in the potential for Pakistani and Indian cricketers uniting in a showpiece event part of a rebrand from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) led by India’s governing body boss Jay Shah.
Back in the mid-2000s, the Asian XI featured Pakistan stars Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi rubbing shoulders with India counterparts Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, while the African XI was a mix of players from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
The updated version, played in the T20 format, is earmarked for June-July next year with discussions snowballing at April’s ICC board meeting between Shah, new chairman of African Cricket Association Sumod Damodar and ACC chairman of development committee Mahinda Vallipuram, who is also an Associate Member director on the ICC board.
Further discussions are set for next month’s ICC Annual General Meeting, where the Afro-Asia Cup - along with a slew of ACC initiatives aiming to develop women’s, Associates and junior cricket - is likely to be officially ratified and a host potentially determined.
There is, of course, the possibility of the traditionally bickering boards not coming to the party but, right now, hopes are high. “We haven’t got confirmation from the boards yet,” ACC head of commercial and events Prabhakaran Thanraj told me. “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 market for sponsorship and a broadcaster.
“It will be a massive event. Really, really big.”
If all goes to plan, it could represent a thawing between the boards of India and Pakistan. "I would love to see the opportunity to build the bridge and allow the players to play together,” said Damodar who is on the influential Chief Executives’ Committee and is contemplating running for next month’s Associate Member Directors contest for coveted spots on the all-powerful ICC board.
“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.”
The plan is for the Afro-Asia Cup to become an annual fixture and also feature players from Associate nations. "The Afro-Asia Cup is a premium product and from a revenue perspective that's where we would generate more income,” said Damodar. “What we pump back can go back to the members, particularly in Africa which needs more support.
"Africa has a lot to benefit because Asia is a powerhouse. It's a relationship I was keen to foster and develop.”
Unlike in the mid-2000s, which was all about the headline act, pathways will be established to include U16 and U19 Afro-Asia Cups to mimic a growing ACC, which is set to soon unveil new initiatives, including U19 Women’s Asia Cup, U13 and U16 Asia Junior Cup and ACC West and East Cups for Associates to qualify for Asia Cups.
“It’s an opportunity to grow players across the region through emerging pathways,” said Vallipuram, the ex-Malaysian cricket boss who will recontest his position on the ICC board.
“It’s all about preparing players and giving them right kinds of exposure. The ACC sees itself to prepare and develop and give all countries a chance to play not only within Asia but also on the world stage.
“We recognize the monetization and commercialization of these properties will help us put funds back into cricket.”
It will surely all add to a tightening of an already cramped cricket calendar, likely to be further squeezed by an expanded Indian Premier League, but the BCCI is invested in the bold ACC plans led by a determined Shah, who is looming as a potential candidate for the ICC chair election later this year.
“We have reactivated the whole Asian Cricket Council to see what we can do with this property,” Thanraj said. “We also want to give confidence to the upcoming cricket nations and develop cricket broadly.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trista...-reboot-of-the-afro-asia-cup/?sh=2de243787466
