Chennai, Bangalore to host 2nd Afro-Asia Cup from June 6

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Top cricketers from the four Asian countries will get together to fight it out against the best Africa has to offer in a three-match day-night ODI series in the second Afro-Asia Cup to be held in Bangalore and Chennai from June six, BCCI president announced here today.

The series will be preceded by two Twenty-20 matches, one between the women's teams of the two continents and the other between the men's teams, in Bangalore on June 5.

Two separate Asia teams will be selected for the ODIs and the Twenty20 games. The Asia team for the tournament and the men's Twenty20 game will be selected on May 11 in Dhaka.

In an effort to further boost the muscle power of Asian giants in World Cricket, Mr Pawar today announced, ''We are delighted that India should play host to this event. The match-up of the best players of Asia against the best of Africa is a proven formula for success.'' Wearing a different hat as the chairman of the Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation, Mr Pawar said, ''In times to come a majority of the teams in world cricket will be from Asia and Africa,'' adding ''Cricket will reach even greater heights with more such events.'' Asked by mediapersons whether seniors or juniors would be given more preference for the Afro-Asia Cup, an aggravated Pawar said, ''The best available team will be selected. Every country will get some representation.It is up to the selectors of the four Asian nations.'' Asia's selection will be done by a panel consisting of Chetan Chauhan (India), Majid Khan (Pakistan), Lalith Kaluperama (Sri Lanka) and ASM Farooque (Bangladesh).

Syed Ashraful Huq, chief executive of the Asian Cricket Council said, ''To have the best cricketers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh come together in one team to represent the spirit of Asian fraternity and co-operation is hugely significant in itself.

We can expect the Afro-Asia cricket at Bangalore and Chennai to be intensely competitive.'' MORE UNI