The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has signed a five-year agreement with the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub (ADCSH) and officially selected Abu Dhabi as a new training base for Afghanistan cricket until 2029.
Abu Dhabi will host all ACB training camps and all Afghanistan A and youth-level matches under this agreement.
The discussions are also in progress with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to possibly host Afghanistan’s senior men’s bilateral series in the UAE in the future.
This partnership was finalized after discussions between the ACB, ADCSH and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC). The focus of the deal is to expand cricketing opportunities for Afghanistan’s players and improve the country’s cricket structure on the global stage.
According to a statement, the agreement will also help ACB improve its global operations and provide better pathways for player development.
Matt Boucher, CEO of ADCSH has expressed his excitement about the partnership by saying:
“We’ve enjoyed hosting Afghanistan cricket over the past few years, and we’re happy to make Abu Dhabi their official second home. Our world-class facilities will help develop cricket talent and contribute to the sport’s growth worldwide.”
ACB’s CEO, Naseeb Khan has called this agreement a “turning point” for Afghanistan cricket. He pointed that having Abu Dhabi as their dedicated training base would help player development and contribute to the country’s cricketing success.
Afghanistan has never been able to host international cricket at home due to the country’s political situation. Over the years, the Afghan team has played its “home” matches in India and the UAE.
Afghanistan had also hosted three of their Test matches, two against Zimbabwe in 2021 and one against Ireland in 2024 at Abu Dhabi. The team has also played multiple ODI and T20I series in the UAE and India.
Abu Dhabi will now serve as a stable and long-term base for Afghanistan cricket with this new agreement.
