Afghanistan Cricket Makes Abu Dhabi Their Second Home Venue After Signing a Big Five-Year Deal

On Tuesday (March 25), the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) signed a five-year destination support deal with Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub (ADCSH). This agreement which spans from 2025 to 2029 makes Abu Dhabi as the main center for all ACB training camps and the hosts for Afghanistan’s A games and national age group cricket. 

The announcement comes after the discussions between the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), ADCSH, and the ACB. These parties agreed to work together to expand cricket opportunities for Afghan cricketers at the international level. 

As Afghanistan found their second home venue, there are discussions that the ACB will continue its collaboration with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to make use of multiple venues in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to host the senior men’s bilateral matches. 

This partnership marks a new era for Afghanistan’s rising talents to exhibit their talent and develop in the sport to promote cricket in their nation. 

ADCSH Chief Executive Welcomes the Change 

Matthew Boucher— the ADCSH Chief Executive, voiced his satisfaction that Abu Dhabi became the second home for the rapidly growing Afghanistan cricket team: 

“Congrats! Our sports facilities have invited several top-class players globally. This agreement expands our dedication to supporting global sport and developing cricket talent, thereby maximizing its capacity to be a strong force for social welfare. Over the past few years, it was a pleasure to host Afghanistan, and we are glad to officially confirm Abu Dhabi as their second home,” Boucher said. 

ACB Chief Executive Opens Up About the Long-Term Arrangement and Plans 

Naseeb Khan— the ACB Chief Executive voiced his gladness on the long-term arrangements and highlighted the valuable chance for Afghanistan cricket’s growth by making the best use of Abu Dhabi’s training facilities: 

“Yes! This is the right opportunity to shift our focus to Abu Dhabi as our training base. The partnership with ADCSH is another turning point for Afghanistan cricket, which allows us to make use of top-class facilities available here, which are essential for our age-group cricket development. Also, this will be the second home venue for age groups to participate in upcoming tournaments. 

It is an opportunity to raise Afghanistan’s success in cricket and build a solid future for the sport in our country,” Naseeb said. 

The Connection between Abu Dhabi and Afghanistan Cricket 

Previously, Abu Dhabi served as the main host for Afghanistan’s senior men’s team, having hosted the series against Zimbabwe and Ireland: 

• 3-match ODI series: Afghanistan vs Ireland (21st January to 26th January 2021) at Sheikh Zayed Stadium 
• 2 Tests and 3 T20Is: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe (02nd March to 20th March 2021) at Sheikh Zayed Stadium 
• One-Off Test:  Afghanistan vs Ireland (28th February to 03rd March 2024) at Tolerance Oval. 

Afghanistan Cricket’s Second Home Venue Solves Political Challenges 

The political tensions in Afghanistan has made it challenging to host international cricket events on its soil. This is one of the main reasons why the senior men’s team has often counted on alternative venues in India such as Lucknow, Dehradun, and Greater Noida as well as in the UAE.  In other words, Afghanistan’s senior level matches in the One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is) format have been staged in India and UAE. 

As some teams found it impossible to travel Afghanistan, having a stable base nearer to the Asian regions such as Abu Dhabi, makes it easier to host a majority of international fixtures at their second home venue. 

Final Opinion: 

Afghanistan cricket’s five-year deal not only offers access to world-class facilities, but also provides the much-needed stability which the entire team and future generations have prayed for years. 

As the UAE continues to extend its support, it’s time for Afghanistan to focus on upgrading its presence on a global scale, nurture the rising talents, and create new opportunities for cricketers at all levels.