Afro-Asia Cup cricket to begin on June five

Bangalore, May 26 (UNI) Top stars, both men and women, from Asia and Africa will be seen in action in the Afro-Asia 2007 One-day and Twenty20 matches to be played at M Chinnaswamy stadium here and at M A Chidambaram stadium at Chennai between June five and nine.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene would lead the combined Asian team which plays three one-day and a Twenty20 match against African team to be led by South African captain Graeme Smith, a release from Karnataka State Cricket Association said here today.

However, there were doubts about the participation of Graeme Smith who underwent surgery on his left knee recently. South Africa's long standing manager Goolam Rajah had recently said that Smith would not be available to lead the team from African continent. It was still uncertain who would lead the African team in case Smith decides to opt out of the tournament. In its first edition held in South Africa during 2005, the series was levelled at 1-1.

Sri Lankan pace spearhead Chaminda Vaas who is playing county cricket in England is also a doubtful starter.

The other notable absentee would be the Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akthar who would not be playing due to lack of fitness.

Bangladesh medium pacer Mashrafe Mortaza, who had been bowling well against the Indians in the ongoing tour, would replace Shoaib.

In Bangalore, the first match would be played on June five. The women's teams would play a Twenty20 which begins at 3.30 pm and the men's teams would be in action at 7.30 pm.

On June six the 50-over-a-side day-night Official men's One-day International would begin at 2.30 pm.

In Chennai two more men's ODIs would be played back-to-back between the two teams on June eight and nine.

The players would start arriving in the city from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya would start arriving in the city from June three.

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