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Recent Achievements: Third in ACC Rankings for 2011 and 2012 seasons
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In 2012 ODIs were played against Pakistan and Australia from which, despite their losses, Afghanistan emerged with credit and they impressed in patches in the ICC World Twenty20. Never a part of the British Empire, it was only in the camps established during the Afghan Wars of Liberation against invading Russia, in the North West Frontier Province region of Pakistan from 1979 onwards, that cricket first became popular amongst the displaced Afghans. Afghanistan’s cricket in the past ten years, which has seen them progress from being a disorganised rag-tag band of nomadic hitters into a well-balanced team that has impressed mightily on the world stage has won the respect and affection of millions. From zero-access to cricket 10 years ago, and with precious little other sport on offer in the country, Afghanistan’s international success is generating tremendous interest. With the highest proportion of school-age children in the world, one in five, and 50% of the country below the age of 18, there is huge potential for cricket to play a huge part in establishing sport as a social force in Afghanistan. Indeed, junior playing numbers have increased substantially in the country since 2009. Grounds are springing up across the country. By the end of 2011 they had two full-sized turf stadia, one in in Jalalabad funded by the ACC, ACB and a local businessman, and the other in Kabul. An increasingly sound and adroit administrative set-up is apparent: local sponsorship and the support of Asia’s Test-playing countries is being canvassed, practise facilities are being put in place, teams are being picked on merit and the players are left to do what they do best – play cricket. The players themselves are in demand to play in the domestic leagues of Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UAE. In February 2010 Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the Middle East was given to Afghanistan for use as their ‘home ground’ for training and matches by Abdulrahman Bukhatir, founder of cricket in Sharjah and a prime mover behind Dubai Sports City. This is where they have played the bulk of their first-class and ODI cricket. |
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| AFGHANISTAN CRICKET BOARD (ACB) In front of Kabul Nandari Chaman Hozori Kabul Afghanistan Tel: +93 799 041858 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: http://www.cricket.af/ |
"I once switched off the radio commentary when he batted rather than run the risk I'd hear him dismissed." Samir Chopra
