Afghanistan Cricket Board announces a New National A Team

Cricket continues its spiralling growth in Afghanistan with the Afghanistan Cricket Board choosing a talented 20 player National A Team. The players come from many of the provinces of the country and will provide support and competition for the country’s National Team which is achieving a high level of international success.

“The National Team needs support and backup so that it will continue to achieve,” the ACB Chief Executive, Dr Hamid Shinwari, said in announcing the team, “our new A Team will provide development and experience for these new talented players which will give us a larger selection pool for the main National Team.”

A 15 day training session will take place in December with the former National Team coach, Taj Malik Alam, training the new team. Mr. Alam described the new team as “stars in the coming two years” and said, “We will train these players the enable them to provide strong competition for the National Team.”

Fazal Naizi, an all rounder from Paktia, spoke for the whole team when he said, “We are all very honoured to be able to play cricket for Afghanistan’s A Team and support the National Team. This is the dream of every young Afghan cricketer and we have achieved it. Cricket is bringing our country together and we are happy to do our best for cricket and for Afghanistan.”

Afghanistan Cricket Board is negotiating with the UAE Cricket Board to arrange matches for National A Team against similar UAE teams. The negotiations have been very positive and various matches will take place in the UAE over coming months. A long term plan has been also developed for the National A Team which will see the team playing matches against Pakistan, India and Bangladesh A. 

Taj Malik Alam is very positive about the future of the new team and said, “We intend to give the new team a heavy training schedule which will result in better achievements.  There is no reason that this team cannot follow the National Team to an elite level of play and competition. The players are motivated and committed and we can take them a long way.”

Player Profiles in Brief

Fazal Naizi from Paktia Province, plays in Paktia Province Team.  He is an all rounder player, a right hand batsman and fast bowler.

Pamir Hussaini, from Laghman Province, is the captain of Laghman Provincial Team.  He is a right hand batsman and bowler and has attended Afghan U-19 team tours.

Rahmat Shah, a member of the Khost Provincial Team and has shown talent in 50-over matches. He is a bowler and a good right hand batsman. He has made 50 runs in 50-over tournaments and took 18 wickets during the tournament.

Naiz Wali, of Baghlan Provincial Team, is a right hand batsman and has participated several training sessions with National team

Imran Stanikzai, the brother of National Team best player Asghar Stanikzai, he is a batsman and has made more than two 5oez in 50-over tournaments.

Najeeb Tarakai, of Nangarhar Province, is famous for making runs and plays as an opener.

Javid Ahamdi, of Nangarhar province, a good player who has attended several matches with National team.

Noorulhaq Malikzai, of Laghman Province, is a right arm bowler and a batsman. He has attended 3 tours with the National Team. He was also in the National U-19 team.

Dawlat Zadran, of Paktia Provincial Team, is a bowler with a speed of 135 Km/hour.

Ali Ali, of Parwan Province Team, is a fast bowler and a very tall man.

Obaid Kunari, captain of the Kunar Provincial Team, has played with National team and is a bowler and sometimes batsman. 

Shir Rahman, of Nangarhar Province, played with the Panjshir Provincial Team. He is an all rounder and fast bowler.

Nasratullah, captain of the Panjshir Provincial Team, is a right-arm spin bowler.

Hamza Hotak, of Nangarhar Province, is a spin bowler and played in the U-19 National team.

Shokor Zaki, of Kabul Province, played with Maidan Wardag Provincial Team. He is a leg breaker bowler and has played with a great success in the National U-19 team.

Zameer Khan,  of Nangarhar Provincial Team, is an all rounder and opener.

Morad Ali, of Faryab Province, is a wicket keeper and played with the National U-19 team.

Abdullah Adil, of Nangarhar Province is a bowler and has played in provincial tournaments and has shown talent.

Shir Shirzai, of Kabul Province, is the Maidan Wardag Provincial Team captain. He was also a member of the National U-19 team and is a batsman.

Navid Sayem, captain of Herat Provincial Team, is a batsman and spin bowler. He has shown talent in theT-20 tournament.