Afghanistan touring England and Wales in June

ECB will be hosting the Afghanistan national cricket team in June, when they officially tour the country for the first time.

The ECB are looking forward to help Afghanistan develop as one of the newly affiliated members of the International Cricket Council, and provide an opportunity to experience cricket in completely different conditions.

The tour, managed by the UK-based International Cricket Group and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank and The Observer, will begin at Hoddesdon Cricket Club on June 11.

The visitors will face county 2nd XI sides such as Essex and Glamorgan, as well as some strong club teams. There will be a match played at Sandhurst where the team will face a Royal Military Academy XI and a trip to the ECB’s National Cricket Centre in Loughborough.

Afghanistan have competed in a number of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments in the last few years, and recently reached the final of the ACC Middle East Cup.

Shahzada Masoud, President of the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (ACF) said: “This was our dream to play in the English conditions and I am sure we will impress everybody, especially with our fast bowling which is one of the fastest attacks in the world.”

Cricket has grown in Afghanistan despite the ravages of war; and Azam Khan, development officer of the ACF, explained that when the Soviets invaded Afghans were forced to head for Pakistan. It was there many picked up the game and then later bought it back home and now bring it to Cricket’s World Home.

The players have learnt their craft playing on concrete wickets with exclusion zones replacing boundary ropes.

Inspired by the growth of interest in cricket in Afghanistan, the MCC, led by former England captain Mike Gatting, went to Mumbai in India for a match against the emerging cricket-playing nation. Afghanistan’s 179 run victory impressed the club so much that they recruited two of the players for the MCC Young Cricketers scheme.

Now, cricket provides a bright future and the ACF are looking to expose more youngsters to the sport. The ECB have provided Kwik Cricket sets to schools, and money raised from the tour will be put towards creating a cricket stadium in Kabul and a cricket academy.

Afghanistan itinerary:

June 11 v Hoddesdon CC
June 14 v Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
June 15 v Glamorgan CCC, 2nd XI at Swansea CC
June 19 v Loughborough UCCE
June 20 v Essex CCC, 2nd XI at Billericay CC
June 21 v Leicestershire CCC, 2nd XI at Hinckley Town CC
June 22 v Ditchling CC, Sussex