Saturday, Apr 10, 2010
Gulf News
Sharjah Afghanistan's cricket team will train for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup a t the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
"The Afghanistan team will arrive here tomorrow [to] train as well play practice matches [in] preparation for the upcoming World Cup," Ali Anwar Jafri, the joint secretary of the Sharjah Cricket Council told Gulf News.
"Sharjah will be the home ground of the Afghanistan team and we will be providing all facilities for them," added Jafri.
Afghanistan had qualified for the World Cup by winning the ICC Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers beating Ireland by eight wickets in the final held at the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium in February this year. "Afghanistan is scheduled to play Twenty20 matches against UAE as part of their preparation at the Sharjah Stadium. They will also play a few matches against some of the top local teams here," added Jafri.
Keenly fought
The UAE-Afghanistan Twenty20 matches are expected to be keenly fought. UAE beat Afghanistan in the Asian Cricket Council Elite Trophy in Kuwait last week. In the Twenty20 qualifiers UAE lost to Afghanistan by four wickets.
Afghanistan regained their form in Kuwait after their defeat to UAE and went on to beat Nepal by 95 runs in the final to lift the ACC Elite Trophy. The Afghan team will be flying in from Kuwait with the trophy.
"Afghanistan can practice at the main pitch or our practice pitches. We have postponed Sharjah Cricket Council's girls' cricket tournament by a few days to facilitate their practice. They can also train at the Al Dhaid grounds if required," said Jafri.
Afghanistan plays their opening match of the World Cup against India on May 1 at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia, West Indies. On May 5 they will take on South Africa at the Kensington Oval ground in Barbados.
By K.R. Nayar
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
