Kabul first time hosting foreign cricket team

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghan capital Kabul is for the first time hosting a foreign cricket team and the national side is all set to take on the visiting first class Pakistani team in their first of six matches here on Wednesday.

The Habib Bank Limited cricket team, which arrived in Kabul two days ago, also includes some former Pakistani players.

Captains of the two teams --- Afghan skipper Najibullah Zadran and Pakistani captain Imran Farhat --- and Afghanistan cricket board officials briefed media persons about matches between the two sides at the Kabul Inteational Cricket Stadium.

ACB chairman Nasimullah Danish said that Kabul was hosting a foreign cricket team for the first time.

“I welcome the Habib Bank Limited cricket team and I thank the Pakistan Cricket and the bank officials for allowing the players to come to Afghanistan,” Danish said.

He said the matches between the Afghanistan Development Cricket and the HBL side were being played in the name of friendship and hoped the Pakistani team would retu with good memories from Afghanistan.

ACB chief executive Shafique Stanikzai said the HBL team was captained by former Pakistani opener Imran Farhat.

He said the sides would play two four-day and four one-day matches at the Kabul Inteational Cricket Stadium.

“These matches are aimed at promoting the culture of inteational cricket touaments in Afghanistan and in this regard we are taking practical steps.”

Imran Farhat said they had come to Afghanistan to exchange experiences and added he was confident they would play well against the Afghanistan Development Cricket team.

Farhat said they were warmly welcomed and extended hospitality in Kabul and hoped the spectators would enjoy the matches.

Stanikzai said his side was comprised of young players and hoped they would defeat the visiting team in all the games.

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