DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates will host Afghanistan’s ‘home’ games for the next five years, the Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) said on Sunday.
Security concerns have kept tour teams away from Afghanistan, which has played its “home” matches in India in recent years. This perception has only deepened since the Taliban took over the country in August 2021.
As part of the deal, Testing nations Afghanistan will play an annual three-match T20 series against the second-tier Emirati side, the cricket boards said in a statement.
“…we are happy to support the ACB in ensuring that they have a home for their cricket,” said the general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Mubachir Usmani said in a statement.
“We are also grateful to the Afghanistan Cricket Board for agreeing to play a series of T20I matches against the United Arab Emirates team every year.
“This will provide our UAE team with invaluable visibility and help in their development.”
Security concerns have kept tour teams away from Afghanistan, which has played its “home” matches in India in recent years. This perception has only deepened since the Taliban took over the country in August 2021.
As part of the deal, Testing nations Afghanistan will play an annual three-match T20 series against the second-tier Emirati side, the cricket boards said in a statement.
“…we are happy to support the ACB in ensuring that they have a home for their cricket,” said the general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Mubachir Usmani said in a statement.
“We are also grateful to the Afghanistan Cricket Board for agreeing to play a series of T20I matches against the United Arab Emirates team every year.
“This will provide our UAE team with invaluable visibility and help in their development.”
🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 Very excited to share #UAECricket & @ACBofficials have formalized a five-year deal that… https://t.co/ZRSocUBpdE
– United Arab Emirates Cricket Official (@EmiratesCricket) 1669530774000
The ECB would also provide logistical support to the ACB, including visa assistance and office space.
CEO of ACB Naseeb Khan hoped that the “successful agreement” would serve the future goals of both councils.
The UAE has served as the venue for Pakistan’s home games in the past and also hosted last year’s T20 World Cup after the showpiece had to be moved out of India following of a COVID-19 crisis.
