Afghanistan cricketers arrive in Pakistan for a month-long training camp

By Rizwan Ali

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Afghanistan’s cricket team has arrived in the Pakistan city of Lahore for a month of training to prepare for matches against Scotland in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the World Cricket League Championship in March.

Coach Kabir Khan told a news conference on Monday that his players will gain experience and the war-torn country’s cricket board will save money by training in Lahore rather than its previous base in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

“We have two stadiums (in Afghanistan), but we don’t have academies,” Khan said. “For 22 players, one needs bowling coaches, batting coaches (and in Pakistan) you have coaches like Ijaz Ahmed.”

Ahmed, a former Pakistan test batsman, has been with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for over a year. Khan said he has also requested for ex-test legspinner Abdul Qadir to train Afghan players.

Afghanistan’s training schedule will include playing eight one-day games and four Twenty20s against Pakistan regional sides.

“In Sharjah we played against local clubs, but the competition level is not good there,” Khan said. “Here, we will not only get good coaching, but also our players will get tough competition.”

Khan also said there are negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board for a five-year deal to allow Afghanistan to train at the NCA, which is more affordable for the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

“If we compare our expenses with Sharjah, what we are going to be charged here at the NCA is far less than that,” Khan said.

Afghanistan, an associate member of the International Cricket Council, has both one-day international and Twenty20 status. It is the only foreign team to tour Pakistan over the last three years, having played one-day matches against Pakistan ’A’ last year.

No test playing nation has toured Pakistan since 2009, when gunmen attacked Sri Lanka’s team bus convoy at Lahore, killing six police officials and a van driver.

Apart from Afghanistan’s three key players — fast bowler Shahpoor Zadran, former captain Mohammad Nabi and Samiullah Shinwari — Khan said the top 22 Afghan players had all come to Pakistan.

The three missing players are competing in the Bangladesh Premier League — a Twenty20 competition.

PCB director Intikhab Alam said the board is also planning to include Afghanistan in Pakistan’s domestic ODI and Twenty20 tournaments and underlined the help being provided to the visitors at the NCA facilities.

“We will provide trainers, coaches and even analysts during their month-long training camp, which I hope will help them to improve their skills,” he said.

Alam said the PCB is also planning to televise “at least four to five matches” featuring Afghanistan’s stay in Pakistan.

12:07ET 21-01-13