Cricket academy opens in Lashkargah

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): A cricket academy has been inaugurated in the capital of southern Helmand province, paving the ground for professional learning of the game, an official said on Sunday.

Afghanistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer Dr. Noor Mohammad Murad, local officials and a number of national team members participated in the opening ceremony late on Saturday.

Murad told the participants similar academies would be set up other provinces as well to enable upcoming players to learn the basics of cricket.

Acting Deputy Governor Ahmad Massoud assured the ACB of all possible cooperation with efforts at promoting the popular sport in Helmand. “Cricket has been one of the areas where we have made a lot of progress.”

ACB spokesman Farid Hotak told Pajhwok Afghan News the academy would train about 42 different teams in Helmand. The 800,000 afs facility, spread on one acre of land, has two pitches.

Parliamentarian from Helmand Nasima Niazi hailed the academy’s inauguration as a giant stride toward training upcoming cricketers in the province.

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