(ACB/Getty Images)
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its plans to consider hosting a Youth Tri-series involving teams from Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The proposed Youth Tri-series is part of the ACB’s efforts to enhance youth cricket in the area. It garnered significant attention at the ICC’s recent annual board meeting in Colombo.
ACB proposed a Youth Tri-Series involving Pakistan and UAE at the ICC meeting.
During the ICC’s annual meeting in Sri Lanka, ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf and CEO Naseeb Khan held constructive discussions with representatives from Cricket South Africa (CSA), New Zealand Cricket (NZC), and Cricket West Indies (CWI).
The main focus of these talks was to explore the possibility of organizing white-ball series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. Additionally, discussions centered on the proposed Youth Tri-Series, which would feature up-and-coming cricketers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the UAE, making it a pivotal event in the cricketing calendar.
While specific details such as dates and venues for the Youth Tri-Series are still pending finalization, the ACB also mentioned plans for A-team tours to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. These tours aim to provide valuable international exposure and opportunities for young Afghan talent to hone their skills on the global stage.
The ACB said in an official press release: “Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Chairman, Mr Mirwais Ashraf, and CEO, Mr Naseeb Khan, attended the ICC Board Meeting which was held this week in Sri Lanka and was attended by representatives from other member countries. During the meeting, ACB’s leadership presented recent achievements, activities, and future plans for the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
They also held discussions with representatives from Cricket South Africa, Cricket New Zealand, and Cricket West Indies about potential white-ball bilateral cricket ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The discussions also included A team tours to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and the possibility of a Youth Tri-Series against Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, with the dates and venues to be confirmed.”
The ICC and cricket boards commend Afghanistan’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2024.
The ICC and representatives from various cricket boards have showered praise on the ACB and the Afghanistan cricket team for their outstanding display in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Led by Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captured global attention with a remarkable campaign.
Marking a historic achievement, Afghanistan reached the semi-finals of an ICC event for the first time, securing memorable victories over powerhouse teams such as Australia and New Zealand in the super-8 and group stages of the recent T20 World Cup 2024 held in the USA and Caribbean.
Although Afghanistan was defeated by South Africa in the semi-final, their aggressive and fearless style of play throughout the tournament earned admiration worldwide. Their performance not only underscored their growth but also demonstrated their potential to compete at the highest level on the international stage.
The press release added, “The ICC leadership and meeting participants praised ACB and AfghanAtalan’s recent accomplishments in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and highlighted the team’s remarkable performances and their significant contribution to entertaining fans around the world and the development of cricket in Afghanistan.”
