KABUL (SW): The long wait by Afghanistan's nascent Cricket team for a sponsor got over as a local firm offered $ 13 million dollars worth of sponsorship for the emerging squad on Monday.
The 10-years long sponsorship agreement that would be reviewed after three years was signed by officials of the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the Alokozay Group of Companies (AGC) at the Kabul International Stadium.
Afghanistan's cricket team is an emerging one that has earned international reputation within years of its formation a decade ago. The team had no sponsor for the past two years that was hampering growth of the game besides financial constrains for the management. The Afghan squad that was first formed by refugees who learned the game in neighboring Pakistan- now has many superstars who are followed by thousands in this war-torn country.
Under the agreement, the national cricket players will wear ACG logo on their shirts, the Kabul International stadium would be named after the sponsor and Alokozay would be the main sponsor of all domestic competitions.
Shafiqullah Stanikzai, Chief Executive ACB, called the development historic landmark.
“Sponsor is crucial for survival, our talented players in the national team and junior teams have proved their worth in attracting this leading Afghan firm to invest”, he said.
On his part, Mirwais Sial, the ACG Markeeting Manager, said the cricket team has brought the dejected nation so many moments of joy and it deserved much more.
“We wish to support them for as long as possible, irrespective of the uncertain political and economic situation of the country”, Siad vowed.
The Afghan squad mad a history earlier this year by making it to the World Cup 2015 held in Australia and New Zealand.
ACB plans to spend the money on its High Performance Program aimed at nurturing young talent, developing infrastructure and the domestic cricket.
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