Afghan cricketers will be playing first-class cricket this season as requests have been received by the Afghanistan Cricket Federation to release five players to Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

National players Karim Sadiq, Shahpur Zadran and Dawlat Ahmadzai have been invited to represent Badureliya SC in Sri Lanka’s Premier Division Tournaments. They will be playing in domestic one-day and four-day cricket for the 2007-2008 season.

The benefits of all this will be apparent in Kuwait and a place in the semi-finals at least, is very possible.

Badureliya General Secretary Priyantha Algama said, “Considering the fact that Sri Lanka’s best players participate in these tournaments, it will offer the three Afghanistan players an ideal opportunity to compete against some of the top players in the world.” Three more Afghans are in line to also play in Sri Lanka: Hasti Gul, Raees Ahmadzai and Nowroz Mangal.

The two Afghans invited to play for Customs in Pakistan, are Hamid Hassan and Mohammad Nabi.

Filed October 17 2007