As an important exercise in preparation for the U-19 World Cup, Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation (AACC) will be holding a six-nation, sixteen-match tournament in the Indian port city of Vishakapatnam from 19 -27 November, 2005. India, Pakistan. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be playing along with South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, President of the Asian Cricket Council and Chairman of AACC, explained the rationale behind the tournament by saying: “Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation is a regional body formed by the Africa Cricket Association and the Asian Cricket Council to support the development activities of its members across both continents. The recent Standard Chartered Afro-Asia Cup was the AACC’s first tournament venture. An ‘A’ Team Tournament, featuring the players on the brink of selection for the Test and ODI teams is scheduled to be held early in 2006.”

Peter Chingoka, President of the Africa Cricket Association said: “These kinds of player-formative exercises are very much part of what the AACC aims to promote over the next few years.”

The U-19 World Cup will be held in Sri Lanka in February 2006. “Our cricketers all have ambitions to play at the highest level and age-group tournaments such as these in different conditions against their cricketing peers can only help them on their way to the top,” said Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa’s Chief Executive Officer. “The U-19 Afro-Asia Cup will go a long way in creating international cricketers.”

“It’s important that players get as much exposure as possible to top competition and different conditions. Vishakapatnam will provide a close approximation to what the U-19 players will encounter in Sri Lanka,” said K.K. Haridas, ACC Events Executive.

In a joint statement, Hoosain Ayob and Sultan Rana, the Development Managers of Africa and Asia respectively, affirmed that “Alongside Africa’s and Asia’s existing development activities, these high-profile events are welcome additions. The scale and scope of our development program through the support of the AACC, to boost the efforts of all our members will be substantial”.

UNDER 19 AFRO-ASIA CUP 2005 IN VISHAKAPATNAM, INDIA

Filed September 20 2005