National cricket team off to Namibia

KABUL Cricket League Championship matches against Namibia from August 4–11, the game’s regularity authority said. 

In a statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the tour would begin with a four day match on August 4 as part of the Intercontinental Cup match which would be followed by two World Cricket League Championship One Day matches on August 9 and 11.

Afghanistan and Namibia met last time in March, 2012 in the UAE. Afghanistan who defeated Namibia by 28 runs qualified for the Twenty20 World Cup 2012, shattering Namibia’s hopes for a position in the cup. 

The statement said Afghanistan needed to win both of the World Cricket League Championship matches in order to qualify for the World Cup 2015 and avoid the World Cup qualifier in 2014.

The upcoming matches are expected to be hard fought by both sides, it believed.

ACB CEO Dr Noor Mohammad Murad said, “We wish our national team all the best for its Namibia tour. We are looking forward to watching a top class performance by our players.”

He reposed confidence in the side’s ability to perform well and qualify for the World Cup 2015. He said the players had benefited from a 14-day training camp in the lead up to the tour. “We know they will do everything they can to make our country proud.”

After the Namibia tour, the national team will move to Singapore for the Asian Cricket Council’s Emerging Teams Cup 2013with their first match starting on August 17.

The 4-day match will be streamed on the ACB website (www.cricket.af) and the two One Day matches will be telecast on Shamshad TV with live scores on the ACB website. They are expected to attract a huge viewing audience across Afghanistan.

pr/ma

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