2005 Afro-Asia Cup

The Afro-Asia Cup was a cricket competition played for the first time in 2005 and which is intended to run for at least three years. The idea was to raise money for the Asian Cricket Council and the African Cricket Association, and the whole venture was given a massive boost when the ICC, somewhat controversially, agreed to give the series of one-day matches full ODI status.

The inaugural competition was a series of three one day matches played between an Asian XI and an African XI. Controversially, the games have been awarded official One Day International status. The teams were selected by former Test match players rather than by national selectors.

The ICC expected that there would be a strong competitive tender for television rights. However, the main television broadcasters, ESPN/Star and Ten Sports, declined to bid. The rights were eventually bought by Nimbus Sports for the 2005 competition and the next two competitions in the following years.

There was much controversy over the final squad lists: many of the leading players were either unavailable for selection, withdrew from participating or chose to fulfil commitments with domestic teams.

The 2005 tournament was closely fought. Africa won the first match by just two runs, while Asia won the second by 18 runs to set up a series decider. However, after Africa had been bowled out for 106, the Asian innings was curtailed by rain, and the match eventually declared a no result. Thus, the series was tied 1–1 and the trophy shared.

The African squad was selected from players from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. As the first match clashed with Zimbabwe's Test match against New Zealand, the Zimbabweans did not play in the first game. Justin Ontong was available for selection for the first game instead. Graeme Smith still had two matches of a four-match suspension to serve, and so was unavailable for the first two games.

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