!Write AFGANISTANI Well Wishes!
**(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 13 IN ODI)**
*(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 12 IN T20)*
Physical Address: National Youth Cricket Stadium Kabul Nandari, Kabul, Afghanistan
Main Switchboard Numbers: +93 788133144/799 041858
General enquiry email:acb.ceo@afghancricket.af or info@afghancricket.af
Main Switchboard Numbers: +93 788133144/799 041858
General enquiry email:acb.ceo@afghancricket.af or info@afghancricket.af
ACC Twenty20 Cup co-champions, ICC World Cricket League Division 5
champions, ICC World Cricket League Division 4 champions, ICC World
Cricket League Division 3 champions and now Asia's newest ODI nation:
Afghanistan are the rising stars of Asian cricket. Already with a global
following, it plays with dash and panache, cares only for winning and
considers every match played to be a matter of national honour. Since
becoming an ACC member its progress has been rapid and it has reached
unprecedented heights for an Affiliate nation.
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, according to the United Nations and 60% of the country below age of 21, there is huge potential for cricket to play a huge part in establishing sport as a social force in Afghanistan.
Being beaten by Hong Kong in the 2006 ACC Trophy semi-final was actually beneficial to Afghanistan. For all its talent it had yet to develop a winners' tenacity. Placed in ICC World Cricket League Division 5 as a result of its ACC ranking, it would have to play anything up to 25 matches in order to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Starting at Division 5 meant it had a chance to progressively build confidence and competence against other countries. It won Division 5 by the narrowest of margins and was more convincing in Division 4 where it was unbeaten. "The opposition has been tougher each time," says former captain Raees Ahmadzai, Man of the Match in the Division 4 Final, "we are learning about our strengths and weaknesses with each game we play." Winning Division 3 in Argentina at the start of the year was a tremendous effort.
Robin Marlar, President of Marylebone Cricket Club, said in 2006 that there are a couple of Afghan cricketers already good enough to play Test cricket. Current MCC committee member and former England cricketer Matthew Fleming visited Kabul in November 2007 and said that "if Afghanistan played England in Twenty20 cricket, it would win at least one match out of ten."
Afghanistan's profile rose still further in 2010 when they won the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers to reach the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. Although it lost both matches - to India and South Africa - the experience will stand them in good stead for the future. It impressed in the field, it was with the bat – against short-pitched bowling of a venom they had not encountered before – which showed the difference between them and the those at the highest level of the game.
Afghanistan can now rightly consider itself the leading Affiliate nation, a statement that was backed up by its third-place finish in the ICC World Cricket League Division One in July 2010.
Its next major goal will be to reach its first 50-Over World Cup via the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in 2013.
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, according to the United Nations and 60% of the country below age of 21, there is huge potential for cricket to play a huge part in establishing sport as a social force in Afghanistan.
Being beaten by Hong Kong in the 2006 ACC Trophy semi-final was actually beneficial to Afghanistan. For all its talent it had yet to develop a winners' tenacity. Placed in ICC World Cricket League Division 5 as a result of its ACC ranking, it would have to play anything up to 25 matches in order to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Starting at Division 5 meant it had a chance to progressively build confidence and competence against other countries. It won Division 5 by the narrowest of margins and was more convincing in Division 4 where it was unbeaten. "The opposition has been tougher each time," says former captain Raees Ahmadzai, Man of the Match in the Division 4 Final, "we are learning about our strengths and weaknesses with each game we play." Winning Division 3 in Argentina at the start of the year was a tremendous effort.
Robin Marlar, President of Marylebone Cricket Club, said in 2006 that there are a couple of Afghan cricketers already good enough to play Test cricket. Current MCC committee member and former England cricketer Matthew Fleming visited Kabul in November 2007 and said that "if Afghanistan played England in Twenty20 cricket, it would win at least one match out of ten."
Afghanistan's profile rose still further in 2010 when they won the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers to reach the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. Although it lost both matches - to India and South Africa - the experience will stand them in good stead for the future. It impressed in the field, it was with the bat – against short-pitched bowling of a venom they had not encountered before – which showed the difference between them and the those at the highest level of the game.
Afghanistan can now rightly consider itself the leading Affiliate nation, a statement that was backed up by its third-place finish in the ICC World Cricket League Division One in July 2010.
Its next major goal will be to reach its first 50-Over World Cup via the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in 2013.
