Afghanistan cricket is to call Abu Dhabi home for the next five years after their board signed a “destination support” agreement with Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub, home to the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The deal with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, which runs until 2029, positions Abu Dhabi as the host for Afghanistan's training camps and all ‘A’ International and junior-level matches and tournaments.
The ACB will also work with the Emirates Cricket Board to utilise the major venues in the UAE for the senior team's bilateral matches.
The agreement was signed between Matt Boucher, chief executive of ADSCH, and Naseeb Khan, chief executive of ACB, in the presence of Aref Al Awani, general secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
Following the agreement, Al Awani said: “We are proud to announce the signing of the agreement between Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub and Afghanistan Cricket Board, the pioneering role of this agreement in supporting the growth of the Afghanistan cricket ecosystem.
"We are also proud to continue hosting various global tournaments, programmes, and training camps in Abu Dhabi, where the vast infrastructure is available to ensure the success of all these events.”
Boucher said the agreement was aligned with Abu Dhabi’s overall vision of fostering a diversity of talent across all levels. He said: “Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub is honoured to provide a world-class home for Afghanistan cricket.
“Our facilities have already welcomed the world’s best players, and this agreement strengthens our strong commitment to nurturing global sporting and cricket talent and leveraging its capacity to be a force for societal good. We’ve loved hosting Afghanistan over the last couple of years and are pleased we can confirm Abu Dhabi as their second home.”
Naseeb said he was looking forward to a new era in Afghanistan cricket.
He said: “Very excited to be entering a fruitful partnership with the ADCSH, which will allow us to utilise all the premium facilities available in this destination for the development of our age-group cricket. Abu Dhabi confirmed as our second home marks another turning point for Afghanistan cricket.
“The UAE has been instrumental in providing us with a platform to compete at the highest level, and I would like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board and all the venues for their continued support. The opportunity to now focus on Abu Dhabi as our training base and our home for age-group participation will allow us to elevate Afghanistan’s sporting success and build a strong national future for the game of cricket in our country.”
The Afghanistan national team has been using venues outside the country for training and hosting matches after years of turmoil at home.
Earlier, Afghanistan played in Sharjah for a number of years and also had a base near Delhi in India.
But despite the difficulties, Afghanistan have made significant progress at the international level, putting in commendable performances in the recent ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy, where they defeated England twice. Their players are also some of the most sought-after cricketers in franchise leagues.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
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Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
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Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
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