Kenya may host next Afro-Asia Cup

Bangalore: Kenya is likely to host the next Afro-Asia Cup which would be held in June next year, the Asian Cricket Council said on Thursday.

"The next Afro-Asia Cup, the third edition, will be held next June in Africa and the likely venue is Kenya where the facilities and weather would be ideal," said ACC Chief Executive Syed Ashraful Haq.

Huq said he was satisfied with the way things have progressed in the ongoing edition of the tournament despite the absence of some top players from both Africa and Asia squads.

"We are very satisfied with the way the teams have responded as well as with the crowd response," he said when asked whether the the pull-out by leading stars like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar from the Asian team affected the tournament.

"Sachin and Rahul were absent when the tournament was held in 2005 also. And Kumar Sangakkara and (Mutthiah) Muralitharan were not available to play for Sri Lanka (at Abu Dhabi against Pakistan) because of their county commitments. Do you think this Asian team is weak?" he queried.

"This tournament is being held for the purpose of developing unity through cricket. Where else can you see Mohd Asif (Pakistan fast bowler) taking a wicket and being hugged by India's Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh. Cricket is not (there) only for making dollars and cents," he said.

"We want Asia and Africa to be together for all purposes," he added.

Huq agreed that November or December would have been the ideal months to conduct the tournament but pointed out the packed international calendar of various countries under the ICC's Future Tours Programme for the event not being held during these months.

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