The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had been using India as its home base, but after the abandoned Test match against New Zealand in Noida, things took a turn.
Continuous rain led to the match being canceled, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced heavy criticism for its handling of the situation.
There are reports that discussions were held about offering Afghanistan home venues in Kanpur, Noida, and Lucknow, the financial losses from the washed-out match and concerns over BCCI’s management prompted the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to make a major decision – shifting its home base to another country.
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For the next five years, Afghanistan will host its home series in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This decision follows successful negotiations with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), ensuring that all visiting teams will travel there for bilateral matches.
UAE will also serve as Afghanistan’s hub for training camps, A-team fixtures, and national age-group tournaments. The ACB and ECB will also collaborate to organize bilateral series for the senior team.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Afghanistan played its home games in Greater Noida and also used Dehradun and Lucknow as venues. However, during the Noida Test against New Zealand, poor ground maintenance after days of rain rendered the outfield unplayable, leading to the match’s cancellation. Following the backlash, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has now opted for a long-term shift, marking a setback for the BCCI.
ACB Chief thanks Abu Dhabi, UAE for unwavering support
“Very excited to be entering a fruitful partnership with the ADCSH, which will allow us to utilize all the premium facilities available in this destination for the development of our age-group cricket. Abu Dhabi confirmed as our second home marks another turning point for Afghanistan cricket,” said ACB chief Naseeb Khan in a statement.
“The UAE has been instrumental in providing us with a platform to compete at the highest level, and I would like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board and all the venues for their continued support. The opportunity to now focus on Abu Dhabi as our training base and our home for age-group participation will allow us to elevate Afghanistan’s sporting success and build a strong national future for the game of cricket in our country,” he added.
