4 cricket tournaments which must be re-introduced in 2019

Multi-team cricket tournaments have proven to be more exciting than bilateral series. The Hero Nidahas Trophy a tri-series held in March 2018 featuring India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as its participants was more thrilling than the "India vs England" or "India vs Ireland" T20 series. The cricket boards could have increased the competition level by having a tri-nation tournament.

The International Cricket Council has made a try to save test cricket by announcing the first-ever Test Championship. Also, the ICC is trying to have the ICC WT20 every two years to keep the fans invested in cricket.

But there were certain fan-favourite tournaments which had been scrapped or cancelled from the ICC calendar due to some reasons. This led to the disappointment of cricket fans, especially from India. The Indian cricket fans would want these 4 scrapped tournaments to be re-introduced again in 2019-

#4 Tri-Series in Australia featuring India, Australia and a third team

India had won the 2008 tri-series in Australia

India has been a part of three tri-series in Australia in the past 10 years but could only reach the final once in 2008, when MS Dhoni’s men won the tournament. In the 2008 series also known as Commonwealth Bank series, a young Indian side toured Down Under to play a tri-series featuring Sri Lanka as the third team. It ended out to be one of the most memorable tournaments as cut-throat competition took place every night. India and Australia made it to the “Best of 3” finals where the Men in Blue won the first two matches to seal the deal.

The same three teams played another tri-series in 2012, however, the tables turned on India this time as Sri Lanka topped the group stage with Australia finishing at the second position. The Indian fans always remember the series for Virat Kohli’s heroics in the game against Sri Lanka and his rise as the chase master. Australia won the series by defeating Sri Lanka with a margin of 2-1 in the best of 3 finals.

In 2015, the last time when India visited Australia, England replaced Sri Lanka as the third team. India performed below-par and did not win a single match in the tournament. Australia defeated England in the final to retain the trophy.

In 2019, the BCCI & CA should consider inviting New Zealand to play a tri-series instead of letting the Indian team tour NZ for an ODI series.

#3 Austral-Asia Cup

Australasia Cup, 1990

The Unimoni Asia Cup ended recently and no Asian team could match India’s level of performance in the UAE. To bring a much-needed change in the Asia Cup format and to breathe new life into the continental event, Austral-Asia cup needs to be re-introduced.

Austral-Asia cup was a tournament which took place during the 1990s featuring teams from Asia and the continent of Australia (Australia and New Zealand). The tournament took place once every four years between 1986 to 1994.

The inaugural tournament’s final saw one of the most epic moments in cricket history take place as Javed Miandad smashed Chetan Sharma for a six when Pakistan needed four off the last ball and had only one wicket in hand. Pakistan also won the next two editions of the Australasia Cup in 1990 and 1994.

Introducing Australia and New Zealand would give more exposure to upcoming Asian teams like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong. Asian Cricket Council should consider inviting the Australian teams and making the Asia Cup an eight-team affair.

#2 Afro-Asia Cup

All the Asian greats in one team

Afro-Asia Cup was a bilateral series played between the Asian XI and the African XI. The Asian XI comprised the top 11 players from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka whilst the African side would have the best cricketers of South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The series was played twice, once in 2005 and the next time in 2007. Both the teams collided in T20 and the 50 overs format. This tournament gave the cricket fans some dream pairings in Rahul Dravid-Mahela Jayawardene and Sachin Tendulkar-Tamim Iqbal.

The two teams always had close encounters and made sure they keep the fans at the edge of their seats until the last ball of the match. The two teams contested the 2005 edition in South Africa and the ICC held the 2007 Afro-Asia cup at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Afro-Asia Cup’s re-introduction may help in re-igniting the inter-continental rivalry.

#1 Champions League T20

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Champions League T20 was one of the best concepts ever introduced in the game of cricket. The top cricket clubs from every country would go head-to-head to determine the best cricket club of the world.

Overseas IPL stars like Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Kevon Cooper, Chris Morris and David Warner were spotted by their future IPL teams during the CLT20. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings were the most successful franchises in the tournament’s six-year history as the two teams won two titles each.

Australian teams Sydney Sixers and New South Wales Blues also won the championship once each.

The cricket boards scrapped the CLT20 due to its dependence on the IPL franchises to generate viewership and revenue. CLT20 also led to the birth of Caribbean Premier League and the new franchises of Big Bash League. The quality of cricket that the participating teams produced was unmatchable, and that is the main reason why the cricket boards should re-consider their decision to bring the league back.

Which tournament do you want to be re-introduced in 2019? Share your opinions in the comments box below.