KABUL): Senior cricket board officials on Sunday said their talks with Indian and Pakistani counterparts had gone well, ruling out any intention to mix cricket and politics.
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Director General Shehzad Massoud told reporters in Kabul he had “productive discussions” with India’s Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) officials on their support for training Afghan coaches and umpires.
He said it was their maiden contact with BCCI counterparts in Delhi last weekend and that they would make efforts to continue the engagement. Indian officials promised to train Afghans in all departments of the game, including score recording.
To a question regarding Afghan players’ participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the ACB official said he had won a promise that five Afghans would be given a chance to play in its next edition.
Massoud said they had no intention to drag the game into regional politics. Afghanistan wanted good cricketing ties both with Pakistan and India, he added. “We have no rivalry with anyone and desire friendship with both.”
ACB Chief Executive Dr. Noor Mohammad Murad said Pakistani officials had promised assisting Afghans in every department of the game as part of friendly ties.
He said they had reached an agreement with Pakistani officials on technical support to Afghan players. Pakistan has pledged training to Afghan players and officials, he added.
Pakistan agreed to three Twenty20 matches and one one-day international between the two sides in the next six months. They also showed media representatives newly designed cricket uniforms.
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