Two C-130H Hercules aircraft, similar to those used by the Royal Australian Air Force to carry supplies to regions devastated by the massive earthquake and resulting tsunamis, flew over the MCG during the break between innings.
Afro-Asia Cup was an idea to raise money for the Asian Cricket Council and the African Cricket Association and the whole venture was given a massive boost when the ICC somewhat controversially agreed to give the series of one-day matches full ODI status.
They went on to lose the opening match of the 2005 Afro-Asian Cup by two runs to the African XI.
They bounced back and won the next match, however, including half centuries for each of the Sri Lankan pair Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
[7] In the final match, the Asians fell to 72/5, but following centuries from Mahela Jayawardene (107) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (139*) – the latter being the highest individual score ever recorded in an Afro-Asia Cup match[8] – they posted a score of 331/8.