No standard cricket ground exists in Herat, grumble players

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Cricket players in western Herat province complain there is no standard and proper playground in the province to play the game according to professional norms.

Ariana Cricket team coach in Herat province, Abdul Wahab, told Pajhwok Afghan News they had many times asked relevant authorities to construct a standard cricket ground in the province, but failed to elicit a positive response.

He said: “We once again ask the officials concerned to think about a standard cricket playground in Herat and make it a priority because no efforts have been made about this.”

A cricket player Mohibullah Babar said cricketers often got injured after falling on the ground due to its uneven surface.

Sayed Jamal Hussaini, a cricket fan, said the lack of suitable playgrounds for cricket harmed the enthusiasm of players and could be dangerous.

He said many national players had leant cricket on such rough playgrounds, but now the time had changed players now needed support.

He said cricketers in Herat could not travel to other provinces to play and they also needed professional training.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) head for Herat office Abdullah Wafa admitted the problem and said the National Olympic Committee was yet to assign land for a cricket ground in Herat.

However, he said, some other institutions had promised to give some land for a cricket ground in Herat, but the promise remained unfulfilled.

aw/ma