Cricket: Abu Dhabi Signs Historic Five-Year Cricket Deal with Afghanistan Cricket Board
ACB-ADCSH Destination Support Agreement Confirmed
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub have locked in on a “destination support agreement” that will make the UAE’s capital city the host for the Blue Tigers’ training camps, A team matches, and national age-groups.
The agreement is part of an initiative to expand opportunities for Afghanistan’s cricket players on the global stage and was signed by Matt Boucher and Naseeb Khan, CEO’s of the ADSCH and ACB, respectively, and it will run until 2029 when a decision on a potential extension will be made.
Additionally, there are ongoing discussions over the possibility of the Blue Tigers’ senior men’s team being allowed to use the Middle-Eastern city for their ‘home’ games, given the difficulty several cricketing nations have faced with travelling to Afghanistan for matches in recent times.
While the agreement was only confirmed last week, the UAE has allowed the Afghans to use its facilities in the past. Back in March 2021, the Blue Tigers took on Zimbabwe in two Test matches in Abu Dhabi, while they also faced Ireland in the same city in February 2024.
Addressing the media on the agreement, ADCSH CEO Boucher said:
"Our facilities have already welcomed the world's best players, and this agreement strengthens our strong commitment to nurturing global sporting and cricket talent and leveraging its capacity to be a force for societal good. We've loved hosting Afghanistan over the last couple of years and are pleased we can confirm Abu Dhabi as their second home."
The ACB expressed their excitement and gratitude about the newly formed partnership, calling it a massive step forward for Afghanistan cricket, while also highlighting that Abu Dhabi’s exceptional facilities and infrastructure will be incredibly helpful in helping develop the next generation of Afghan cricketers.
Agreement Set to Push Afghanistan Cricket to New Heights
Afghanistan has been one of the most improved cricket teams in the world over the last few years, with the Blue Tigers excelling exponentially at global tournaments. Most recently, they reached the semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, while less than a year earlier, the Afghans secured sixth place at the ODI World Cup.
The Blue Tigers’ top-eight finish at the World Cup also earned them their first entry to the ICC Champions Trophy this year, ahead of former world champions Sri Lanka and the West Indies. At the tournament, Afghanistan beat England and were bitterly unlucky not to have a chance to progress to the knockouts owing to their final group stage game being washed out.
The nation’s star players, including the likes of Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan, are currently participating in the 2025 Indian Premier League, so be sure to check out our IPL predictions for our experts’ thoughts on how they may fare at the mega-money T20 competition!
