Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
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Africa and Asia are set to go head-to-head in a three-match one-day series from August 15 to 21, in a tournament that has been organised by the newly formed Afro-Asian Cricket Co-operation.

The dates for the series were confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and are expected to be finalised during the ongoing ICC meeting at Lord’s. The series was first discussed last month at the inaugural meeting of the AACC, following an agreement between the Asian Cricket Council and the African Cricket Association.

Recently, cricket has begun moving away from tradition Nation v Nation encounters. The success of the Tsunami Appeal matches have promoted the idea of regional contests, and in October, Australia take on the Rest of the World in one six-day Test and three one-day matches. Asia’s XI would be drawn from the players of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with Africa being made up pre-dominantly of South Africans, with Zimbabwe and Kenya also contributing.

“Spectacular batsmen like Shahid Afridi of Pakistan, Virender Sehwag of India and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka will play for the same side,” an Indian official told AFP. “Then there will be Muttiah Muralitharan [from Sri Lanka] and India’s Anil Kumble bowling together. It will be a feast for the eyes.”

The series will take place annually with alternate years in Africa and Asia, although it has already been agreed that Africa will host the first game. Under the agreement, 70% of the net profit from the matches would go to the hosting continent and 20% to the visiting side, with a further 10% to a specially created charity for the promotion of cricket in the two continents.

For the first three years, the AACC will be headed by the ACC chief, Jagmohan Dalmiya, with the ACA chairman Peter Chingoka acting as vice-chairman. Each association will constitute its own selection committee to pick the Asian and African elevens.

SOURCE:
http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/211984.html

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

So where's it gonna be held?

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

some where in Africa, i guess they still have to deicde the venue but i guess it will be south africa.

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

It will be fun to watch.

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

So who do the kenyans throw in? Tikolo and odumbe?

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

yay Go Africa go! :hula:

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Practically South Africa Vs Asia XI. I dont think that would be too much fun. Zimbabwe is having problems anyway, Kenya has no world class players so basically it would be South African team calling it self the Africa XI. It would fun to have a hard hitting Asia XI though something like

Afridi
Sehwag
Jaysuria
Tendulkar
Inzimam
Dravid
Kamran Akmal
Irfan Pathan
Shoaib Akhtar
Kumble
Murali

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation Chairman, has announced that the first of the three-match Afro-Asian Cup between Asia XI and Africa XI will take place at Supersport Park, Centurion, in South Africa, on August 17. The second and third matches are scheduled to be held on August 20 and 21 at Durban.

Dalmiya also said, in a PTI report, that the matches, which have been given official status by the ICC, would be played under lights and would begin at midday. The proceeds from the series, which will involve top cricketers of the participating countries, will be used to develop cricket in Asia and Africa at all levels after meeting the tournament expenses.

The selection panels for the two teams will comprise a representative from each of the participating nations. The Asia XI selection panel includes Majid Khan (Pakistan), Ravi Shastri (India) and Sidath Wettimuny (Sri Lanka). Bangladesh are yet to name their representative. Mike Proctor (South Africa), Psyche Nkala (Zimbabwe) and Tom Tikolo (Kenya) are the selectors for the African XI.

The winners of the series will get US$100,000 in prize money. US$25,000 will go to the winners of each of the individual games, US$5000 for the Man of the Match and US$10,000 for the player of the series. Dalmiya added that talks were on with several media companies for the games to be telecasted live and that discussions with sponsors were yet to reach a final agreement

SOURCE: http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/213719.html

How to become a Pakistani?
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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Little interest in inaugural series

Afro-Asian ODIs a TV turn-off

Cricinfo staff

July 26, 2005

The forthcoming Afro-Asia one-day series risks hitting the buffers before it has even started with the news that, so far, there has been a distinct lack of enthusiasm regarding the TV rights.

ESPN/Star, who would usually be considered among the front-runners for such a contest, are committed to showing the Zimbabwe-New Zealand Test series (which clashes with the first game) and then English Premier League football (which clashes with the second and third matches). Additionally, the three ODIs fall in the middle of their Ashes coverage.

Ten Sports, another likely bidder, are covering the Rabobank hockey tournament, featuring the leading nations including India and Pakistan. And although South Africa's Supersport has expressed interest, they have also said that they are not willing to pay for the rights.

The appeal of the event has not been helped by the questionable availability of leading players. The entire Zimbabwe squad are effectively ruled out by their national commitments, while a number of the South African side have county contracts which they are reported to be unwilling to break to play in matches which have questionable value, despite them having the official backing of the ICC.

Pakistan announced today that none of their players would be forced to take part, with a senior official quoted as saying that "if any player wants to skip the event it's all right with us".

The only guaranteed big-name participants appear to be India, although Sachin Tendulkar, their main draw, is out injured. Given that the tournament is the brainchild Jagmohan Dalmiya, there is likely to be intense pressure on the Indians to agree to take part.

When the event was first touted - to a decidedly mixed response - it was hoped that TV rights could be worth more than $10 million over a three-year period, but with less than three weeks to go until the opening match, it seems that the organisers might have to take whatever they can get.

© Cricinfo

What is with all the girls, Part 3
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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Inzamam delighted to lead Asian XI

Inzamam-ul-Haq will lead the Asian XI against the African XI in the forthcoming Afro-Asia Cup. He has Rahul Dravid as his deputy, and a strong squad of 15 for the three one-day matches, which will be played in South Africa from August 17 to 21. “It’s a great honour for me and for my country” a delighted Inzamam told AFP.

Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan and Anil Kumble are the other Indians in the team. Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas represent Sri Lanka while Mohammad Ashraful is the lone Bangladeshi in the team. Pakistan are well accounted for, with Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Akhtar making the cut.

The team was selected by a panel appointed by the Asian Cricket Council and comprised Majid Khan (Pakistan), Ravi Shastri (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka) and Mohammed Shafiqul Haque (Bangladesh). The African Cricket Association is yet to pick its team for the series.

Asian squad Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakarra, Sanath Jayasuriya, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Naved-ul-Hasan, Irfan Pathan, Mohammad Ashraful, Anil Kumble, Shoaib Akhtar. Reserves Marvan Atapattu, Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Khaled Mashud.

SOURCE: http://content.cricinfo.com/afroasiacup/content/story/214827.html

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

They made Inzi captain of Asian XI so the Pakistani players could come and join the Indians and Lankans for Aisan XI otherwise PCB is not forcing Pakistani players to take part in this event.

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Good point but i guess Inzi would have gone in any case because he wanted to go along with the key players primarily for match practice. He has been stressing lately to have training camps between long season breaks so players could stay in shape and practice. His suggestion however was refused by PCB.

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Looks like someone is not happy with the selection :slight_smile:

Ganguly furious about Asia snub

Ganguly is closing in on 10,000 runs in one-day internationals
India batsmen Sourav Ganguly is “disgusted” about being overlooked for the first Asia-Africa one-day series.
Ganguly is only 33 away from 10,000 one-day runs but has been left out of the 15-man Asia squad for the three limited-overs matches later this month.

"It is a raw deal. I may not have scored in my four one-dayers this year, but does anybody’s selection anywhere depend on four matches?

“What about the one-day runs I have? Don’t they have value?” he asked.

“Am I always to be the whipping boy? I am disgusted.”

The three matches have been granted official status by the International Cricket Council, and will be played in South Africa on 17, 20 and 21 August.

Asia’s squad, captained by Inzamam-ul-Haq, was picked by a selection panel including Majid Khan (Pakistan), Ravi Shastri (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka) and Shafiq-ul Haque (Bangladesh).

None of the four are selectors of their national teams.

Ganguly, who was replaced as India captain by Rahul Dravid after being banned for his team’s slow over-rates against Pakistan in April, has questioned the make-up of the panel.

“I am happy Inzy has got the captaincy and I would not have had a problem playing under him,” he added.

“What I can’t understand is why the chief selectors of the four Test-playing nations did not do the choosing and picking?”

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

Someone should tell this idiot that he should concentrate on his career and place in the indian side rather whinning about his spot in Asian XI. He was a big joke during the pak india series and again he is doing the same stuff.He could have atleast waited for some performace from his bat before giving such statements.

The bottom line is that his performance is declining and at this stage inzi, youhana, dravid, sehwag, sangakarra and jayasuria are playing much better cricket than him for their sides, whereas his place in his own side is not even certain.

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

too bad it wont be on tv,but its a good thing inzi is the captain :jhanda:
hope all pakistanis perform well in this tournament

:hehe: @ ganguly

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

It should be on TV. Nimbus Sports of Singapore acquired the worldwide rights. However I was trying to find out the web address of nimbus sports but couldn't find any:(

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Re: Africa versus Asia ODI series in August

LoL@Ganguly's remarks. Someone is sounding naive!

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Gangu crying foul over his omission

Ganguly slams selectors for his omission from lineup for cricket’s Afro-Asia Cup

DAMBULLA (Sri Lanka): Indian batsman Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday angrily criticized selectors who left him out of the Asian cricket squad for the inaugural Afro-Asia Cup, to be played in South Africa next month.

Ganguly, who is just 33 short of becoming only the third batsman in world cricket to score 10,000 runs in limited-over internationals after India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistan skipper Inzamamul Haq said the selectors were wrong in ignoring his claim for selection. “I’m disgusted at getting a raw deal,” Ganguly said. “How come the runs I’ve scored don’t count?” Four Indian players Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan and Anil Kumble were picked Monday for the 15-member Asian squad for the Afro-Asia Cup, which has full one-day international status.

Matches will be played Aug. 17, 20 and 21 in Pretoria. The Asian team also includes six players from Pakistan, four from Sri Lanka and one from Bangladesh. The side will be captained by Pakistan skipper Inzamam. Ganguly said he could not understand why the Asian selection panel did not include any of the chief selectors of Asia’s four test-playing nations. He asked, “How come the chief selectors of the four test-playing nations did not pick the squad?” The Asian squad was picked by a selection panel comprising India’s Ravi Shastri, Majid Khan of Pakistan, Sri Lankan Graeme Labrooy and Shafiq-ul Haque of Bangladesh. None of them figure among the national selectors in their respective countries.

“The way this selection has been handled is disgusting,” said Ganguly, who may still get to play in the Afro-Asia Cup is some top players’ injuries force a change in the lineup. On Monday, Ganguly, 33, joined the Indian squad for the continuing tri-series in Sri Lanka after a four-month ban imposed on him for the team’s slow overrate during the home series against Pakistan in April. Ganguly was serving a ban when the Indian selectors picked the squad for the tri-series, which also features the West Indies. Dravid was named skipper of the Indian team for the competition.

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I don't know what he is complaining about here, i mean his place in Indian squad is questionable and he wants to get selected for Asia XI and he thinks selectors have been biased and unfair to him..................Not only him but Harbhajan Singh is also disappointed and even that doesn't make any sense because we have Muralitharan, Kumble as specialist spinners and Jayasurya, Afridi as part timers in the team alreay then why do we need another spinner unless we drop Kumble.

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Re: Gangu crying foul over his omission

he is just being his usual-self, nothing extraordinary.

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Re: Gangu crying foul over his omission

Ganguly has an idea that his career is towards the end and before that he needs to score 33 runs in the remaining 3 matches of Indian Oil Series which would be a daunting task for him, considering his current form. I guess he was really hoping to be selected for the Afro-Asian Cup which has been granted official status by ICC, therefore providing Ganguly 3 more ODI's to complete 10,000 runs. His omission must have ruined the plans and he must be thinking, damn now I have to score 33 runs in 3 matches i.e an average of 11.