Keen contest on offing between Asia and Africa tomorrow

Bangalore, Jun 5 (UNI) Despite the absence of 'big guns' and a dismal public response, the first ODI of the Afro-Asia Cup tomorrow at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here, promises to be a keen tussle between two continents' batters and bowlers.

Due to the absence of South African captain Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Nitini, Asia holds an upper hand over their African counterparts.

In addition to that, Asia stands aloof with the hardhitting foursome -- Sanath Jayasurya, Saurav Ganguly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Sehwag.

The Asian batsmen would be savouring a run feast in the day-night contest as the African bowling line-up lacks experience without Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall, who would have been delighted to see the newly-laid lively wicket at the Chinnaswamy stadium prepared by two Kiwi curators Blair Christiansen and Bede O'Connell.

However, the African batsmen are up for some tough task as they would be up against the likes of in-form Zaheer Khan, comeback man Mohammed Asif of Pakistan and Lankan Dilhara Fernando.

After tomorrow's match, the venue would be shifted to Chennai as the remaining two matches of the best-of-three series, would be played there on June nine and ten.

The main aim of this event, the brainchild of former BCCI Chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, launched two years ago is to raise funds for the development of minor cricket playing nations of the two continents.

UNI