Cricket in Afghanistan
Cricket in Afghanistan | |
---|---|
Country | Afghanistan |
National team(s) | Afghanistan |
International competitions | |
Under-19 Cricket World Cup |
Cricket in Afghanistan is the most popular sport in the country,[1] which is represented internationally by the Afghanistan national cricket team. Afghanistan's border with the Test playing nation of Pakistan has helped the game to take root. Pakistan's former batsman Inzamam ul Haq has coached the Afghan national team in the past. Afghanistan became a full member of the International Cricket Council on 22 June 2017, enabling the national team to participate in official Test matches.
Afghanistan's playing season runs from May to September. There are 320 cricket clubs and 6 turf wickets in Afghanistan.[2] In February 2017 the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded first-class status to Afghanistan's four-day domestic competition.[3] They also granted List A status to their existing Twenty20 domestic competition, as Afghanistan did not have a domestic 50-over tournament.[4][5] In May 2017 however, the ICC recognised the 50-over Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament by granting it List A status.[6]
History
Cricket was first played in Afghanistan during the 19th century Anglo-Afghan Wars, with British troops reported to have played in Kabul in 1839. However, unlike many countries, no lasting cricket legacy was left by the British, and it would be more than a hundred years before cricket returned.[2]
In the 1990s, cricket became popular amongst
The
Today cricket is one of the most popular sports in Afghanistan, and the Afghanistan team has made quick progress in the international world of cricket.
Governing Body
Domestic Competitions
Afghanistan's domestic structure originally consisted of a 25-over Inter-Provincial Tournament, which had the participation of 22 provinces in the tournament. The aim of the tournament was to spread the game across the country and to generate a greater depth of talent for the national team to select from. The best players from the tournament were selected players for Afghanistan A and under-19 teams based on their performance and would be sent for training and coaching to Bangladesh.
The top two teams from the 12-team first round advanced to the next round. The top six from the tournament then contested a 50 over tournament in Kabul. The 50 over tournament in May 2010 was won by Kabul Province.
Starting in 2011, Afghanistan's domestic cricket structure has grown. The expanded Inter-Provincial Tournament was reorganized into a 50 over tournament and divided into a Challenge Cup section (the
The 5 regions in turn have representative teams which play in all traditional 3 formats of cricket.In addition to an expansion of the inter-provincial tournament from 25-over matches to 50-over matches and the addition of the T-20 and multi-day formats, cricket in Afghanistan has now expanded across the provinces as well; 32 of the 34 provinces now have representative sides.
The UAE-based telecommunications company,
Starting from the 2017 season, Afghanistan has a four-day
In March 2024, the ACB launched a new T20 cricket competition named Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup involving regional teams, with the first edition taking place in April 2024.[16]
Regional domestic teams
- Region: Amo[10]
- Region: Band-e-Amir[10]
- Region: Boost[10]
- Region: Mis Ainak[10]
- Region: Spin Ghar[10]
- Region: Kabul[10]
Stadiums
The Afghan national cricket team does not play its home matches inside Afghanistan due to the ongoing security situation and the lack of international standard facilities. Afghanistan played their 'home' Intercontinental Cup fixture against Ireland at the
Work on the
In 2016,
The following are the main cricket stadiums in Afghanistan:
- Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium in Ghazi Amanullah Town, Jalalabad
- Kandahar International Cricket Stadium in Kandahar
- Kabul National Cricket Stadium in Kabul
- Khost City Stadium in Khost
- Balkh Cricket Stadium in Mazar-i-Sharif
- Sherzai Cricket Stadium in Jalalabad (under construction)
- Kunduz Cricket Stadium in Kunduz
These grounds have hosted matches involving Afghanistan:
- Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
- Sharjah
- Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida
- Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun, Dehradun
- Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium
National team
The
Afghanistan's 21-run win over
National Team Honours
- Winners of the ACC Twenty20 Cup the most number of times (2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013).
- Winners ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2010 and two Runners-up in 2012 and 2013.
- Winners of the season 2009-2010 ICC Intercontinental Cup and Runners-up in 2011-2013 season.
- Runners-up in the Asian Games 2010,2014 and 2022.
- Winners of the 2014 ACC Premier League.
- Winners of the 2010 ACC Trophy (Elite)
- Winners of the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifier
Women's Team
The
Under-19 Cricket Team
Afghanistan national under-19 cricket team represents the country of Afghanistan in U-19 international cricket.
Afghanistan finished second in the 2009 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier which was held in Canada. The team gained victories over the under-19 teams of Sierra Leone, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, the United States, Uganda, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea. The team lost just two matches to Ireland and Canada. Afghanistan have finished fourth in 2011 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier which gained them qualification to 2012 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
The team played in the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Afghanistan were drawn in Group A, where they played against England, Hong Kong and India.
Afghanistan played in the 2012 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. They played against Pakistan, New Zealand and Scotland.
Afghanistan had qualified for 2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. They were drawn against Australia, Bangladesh and Namibia in group B where they beat and qualified for Super league where they lost to South Africa. They finished tournament well by securing 7th position.
In October, 2014 Afghanistan Under-19 team toured neighboring country Pakistan for a three One Day matches series, which ended up in the favor of Afghanistan as 2-1.
See also
- Sport in Afghanistan
- Out of the Ashes (2010 film), a 2010 documentary film
- Afghanistan A tour of Pakistan in 2013
References
- ^ "Women's Cricket: Afghanistan's Secretive New Sport". Time. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Profile of Afghanistan". Asian Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ^ "Big-Three rollback begins, BCCI opposes". ESPN Cricinfo. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Afghanistan domestic competitions awarded first-class and List A status". ESPN Cricinfo. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ a b "In Principle Agreement to Constitutional and Financial Changes to ICC". International Cricket Council. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ a b "ICC Recognizes Afghanistan's Domestic ODI Tournament As List A League". Bakhtar News. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ Timeline of Afghanistan cricket Archived 21 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine at CricketEurope
- ^ "Afghanistan Cricket Board – Etisalat ODN Challenge Cup 2013". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Afghanistan Cricket Board – Provincial ODN Challenge And Elite Cup 2011". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Afghanistan Cricket Board – About Domestic Cricket". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ a b Cricinfo Magazine – Where do Afghanistan go next?
- ^ Domestic cricket: Teams Archived 6 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Afghanistan Cricket Board
- ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ "Provincial Three-day first class tournament to start in Nangarhar and Kunar". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Provincial Grade-one Challenge Cup starts tomorrow". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ "Afghanistan Cricket Board launches Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup". Amu TV. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Afghanistan has a new home ground, ACC
- ^ Pajhwok Afghan News – All provinces to have cricket grounds: minister Archived 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. 11 October 2010.
- ^ "India to host Afghanistan home games". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Soon a Noida home for Afghan cricketers". 2 December 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ^ "First-Class Matches played on Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, Greater Noida (1)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ^ Afghanistan and Uganda seal place in ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine, ICC Media Release, 31 January 2009
- ^ WCL Division Five Official Site Archived 19 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Profile of Afghanistan Archived 12 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine at the ACC website
- ^ First women's cricket team for Afghanistan
- ^ "Afghanistan's Pioneer Women". Asian Cricket Council. 15 August 2011.