Afghanistan’s cricket chief on Wednesday called on top nations to tour the country, insisting it is safe and has world class facilities boosted by foreign money.
Money from Germany is being used to build one stadium in the war-torn nation and interest is growing as Afghanistan has qualified for next year’s World Cup.
“I am telling the players to come to my country and play there, they will treasure those memories forever,” Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Shahzada Masoud told AFP at the Asian Games.
“We want support from other nations. We had lots of problems in the last 30 years because of the uncertain security situation, but that needs to be erased from our minds and heart now.
“Because sport unites people. Cricket is one of our favourite sports. You get 20,000-30,000 people watching our local league matches. The security is good, especially for cricketers.
“Our teams travel around the country without guards. We don’t need those guards. People love them because they represent the country.”
Masoud said a new stadium in Jalalabad was comparable to any stadium in Asia, and has already hosted club and first-class teams from Pakistan.
Foreign assistance is boosting cricket facilities in Afghanistan. The Indian government has given a grant $US1 million ($A1.08 million) to build a new stadium in Kandahar.
And Germany, a non-cricketing nation, has sanctioned 700,000 euros ($A1 million) for a stadium in Khost province, Masoud said.
“We are grateful to both India and Germany for their support,” he said. “But what we want now is for teams like India to come and play on our grounds.
“It would have been so exciting if Sachin Tendulkar had come and played in our country. I hope Mahendra Singh Dhoni can make it.”
Afghanistan has come a long way since the national team was formed in 2001 and played their first Asian Cricket Council tournament for non-Test nations in 2003.
They qualified for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in 2010 and have already taken part in subsequent tournaments in 2012 in Sri Lanka and in Bangladesh earlier this year.
But Afghanistan’s greatest achievement so far is qualifying for next year’s showpiece 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
