The Asian Cricket Council congratulates Afghanistan on its receiving of Sharjah Cricket Stadium as its ‘home ground’ for use in ODIs and first-class cricket. The grant was made by the foremost patron of cricket in the UAE Abdulrahman Bukhatir who said, “Bearing in mind the difficulties they have in Afghanistan, the cricketers deserve to have a place somewhere where they can come and feel that they are at home. Here they have good local support and they can make use of all the practise facilities in Sharjah Stadium, the gymnasium and nets as well as the grounds at Al Dhaid Cricket Village.”

	Abdulrahman Bukhatir

“Afghanistan is not only the team doing the best at present in the developing world of cricket, they are also the team with the most potential,” says Asian Cricket Council Chief Executive Syed Ashraful Huq. “With very little in the way of facilities in Afghanistan the team have qualified for the World Twenty20 Cup this year and narrowly missed out on World Cup 2011 qualification. Being able to practise and play with frequency at Sharjah, to be able to invite other teams to their new ‘home ground’ can only help them improve as cricketers,” he adds.

Afghanistan flying the flag at Al Dhaid

UAE Emirates Cricket Board Administrator Mazhar Khan says, “7000 Afghan fans is what we have come to expect at every big match featuring Afghanistan in the UAE and giving Afghanistan use of Sharjah and Al Dhaid is not only a feather in the cap for cricket here but a revitalisation of cricket in the country. Sharjah Cricket Stadium, having marked its 200th ODI this week, is on course to keep on adding to this mark. Cricket should be played as much as possible and enjoyed by as many as possible at all times, and Afghanistan bring a freshness and energy to cricket that is good to see.”


Following on from their last two tournament successes in UAE, the 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup and the ICC World T20 Qualifier 2010 Afghanistan’s national team is currently in Sharjah playing a 4-day ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Canada, after which they will return to Kabul on February 25. Following that, their next international matches will be in the 50-over ACC Trophy Elite Cup in Kuwait at the end of March.

Related:
Afghanistan Cricket Profile
Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium
Most Matches on a Single Ground

Filed Feb 22nd, 2010