Pakistan on Friday signed an agreement to provide
greater support for cricket in Afghanistan by training players and staff
to help lift the sport in the war-torn country.
Cricket is fast overtaking football as the most popular sport in
Afghanistan after the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the Taliban
regime, with the national team qualifying for back-to-back World
Twenty20s in 2010 and 2012.
The sport was introduced by Afghan refugees returning from
cricket-mad Pakistan, where they fled following the 1979 Soviet
invasion.
Afghanistan became a member of the International Cricket Council in
2001 and in 2009 it made division one and attained one-day status.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it has signed a memorandum of
understanding with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to provide
technical and professional help.
The PCB said the assistance includes game education programmes,
coaching courses, skill and performance analysis, basic umpiring and
groundsman courses.
The PCB will also help plan, organise and implement development
programmes for players, including at the Pakistan national cricket
academy in Lahore.
PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said Pakistan has always supported cricket in Afghanistan.
"Actually it is Pakistan's support that has allowed Afghanistan
cricket to make rapid strides amongst the ICC's affiliate member nations
and we know that Afghanistan has the potential to go places," said
Ahmad.
"And this would be good not just in terms of spreading the game in
Afghanistan but promoting peace and harmony there by bringing people
closer together."
ACB chief executive Noor Muhammad welcomed Pakistan's support as of the "utmost importance".
"The recent support shall put Afghanistan cricket's development on
the fast track as our cricketers, coaches and umpires shall be able to
make use of the PCB's excellent facilities and various education
programmes," said Muhammad.
Afghanistan last month played limited overs matches against
Pakistan's second team in their lead-up to World Cup 2015 qualifying
rounds in the United Arab Emirates.
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