MUMBAI/ KABUL (SW): Officials from Afghanistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for in India inked a memorandum of understanding on Thursday that pave the way for India to play active role in developing cricket in Afghanistan.
According to the agreement, Afghanistan will play cricket series in India. BCCI officials said that bilateral ties will become stronger due to cricket in grounds. The Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday signed an MOU to help Afghanistan cricket, with a home ground in India.
In the MOU, Greater Noida Cricket Stadium was named as the home ground of Afghanistan, where their cricketers can train and play matches. ACC Chief Executive Shafiq Stanikzai, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur and Indian Premier League Chairman, Rajeev Shukla were present at the occasion and signed the MOU. Under the deal the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority will permit Afghanistan to use Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex as home ground.
This ground was recently inspected by ICC and was cleared for hosting Associate vs Associate ODI and T20I matches. It was also cleared to host Associate vs Full Member 'A' team matches. ICC has not yet approved this ground for matches involving national teams of full members and listed a few requirements to be approved for hosting full member main team.
Shafiq Stanikzai thanked the BCCI for offering a home base in India. “This is a historical day for Afghanistan Cricket and this will strengthen the relationship between two countries. We were trying for this for a last few years time and finally we have succeeded. I am sure that in future we would be able to host full members’ national teams on this ground as well”, he said.
According to the ACB, the BCCI has assured that legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and others would assist and train Afghan players at this avenue. BCCI also vowed to support Afghanistan’s bid to obtain test status from the International Cricket Council (ICCI).
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