Afghanistan aim for cricket big time

SINGAPORE, (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s blazing run to   the final of the Asian Games this month has given them a taste   of success and now they are gunning for the cricket big time.
The team is training in Dubai for the Intercontinental Cup   final against Scotland this week and has its eyes on bigger   things.
“The silver medal has inspired us to try even harder in   the International Cup Final. We want to play as much as   possible, wherever possible. The aim is to join the big   league,” captain Mohammad Nabi said.
“It is the passion for the game and our country that keeps   us going,” he added.
“Cricket is the fastest growing sport in our country with   many thousands of people playing the game or following it on   radio and TV. Cricket is now the biggest peaceful movement in   Afghanistan.”
The Afghans were beaten in the Asian Games final earlier   this month by Bangladesh, but beat Pakistan earlier in the   tournament.
In September, Afghanistan romped to victory in a Twenty20   tournament in Pakistan, beating a team that included Imran   Nazir and Rana Naved and underlining Afghanistan’s emergence   as a serious cricket-playing nation.
The International Cup Final is a five-day match from Dec.   2-6 and is the conclusion of a two-year first class   competition among the leading ICC Associate and Affiliate   nations.
The Afghan team will return home on Dec. 8 to a heroes’   welcome, regardless.
“They are a living national treasure and when they return   home, Afghanistan will show how much we love them all,” CEO of   the Afghanistan Cricket Board Hamid Shinwari said in an ACB   statement.