The first Afro-Asian Cup, featuring three One-day Internationals between an Asia XI and Africa XI, will be played in South Africa in the middle of August.
Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation chairman Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters in Kolkata on Monday that the first game would be played on August 17 at Supersport Park, Centurion, in Pretoria, while the second and third are slated to be held on August 20 and 21 at the Sahara stadium, Kingsmead, in Durban.
The matches have been recognized by the International Cricket Council as official ODIs, he said.
Dalmiya said it was also decided at the Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation meeting in Kolkata on Sunday that the matches would be played under floodlights and commence at 12 noon (South African time).
He said top stars from leading cricketing nations of both continents would participate in the tournament and proceeds from the matches, after meeting expenses, would be utilised for developing cricket in Asia and Africa at various levels, including junior.
The teams would be chosen by a panel of selectors from the two continents.
The Asia Cricket Council's selection panel comprises Majid Khan (Pakistan), Ravi Shastri (India), Sidharth Wettimuny (Sri Lanka). Bangladesh is yet to nominate its member on the panel.
The African Cricket Association's panel to select the Africa XI comprises Mike Proctor (South Africa), Psyche Nkala (Zimbabwe) and Tom Tikolo (Kenya).
The nominations have been approved by respective Boards.
Dalmiya said the prize-money for the series would be US $100,000.
The winning team in each of the three matches receives $25,000. The Man of the Match would be richer by $5,000, while the Man of the Series will get $10,000.
He said the matches would be telecast live and talks are on with several media houses.
Discussions too are on with sponsors, but final agreements are still to be reached.
The AACC has selected 'Cricket for Unity' as the slogan for the tourney. The teams are likely to be finalised by August 1, Dalmiya said.
Addressing the AACC's first ever press meet, Dalmiya, also the chief of the Asian Cricket Council, said the new organisation formed last month aimed to develop the game at the grassroot level in the two continents.
"There will be more emphasis on the under-15, under-17 and under-19 levels than on the senior cricket," he said.
Asia-Africa fixtures will become an annual feature, with the tourney slated to be held in Asia next year.
