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"Afghanistan Will Host International Cricket": ACB CEO Envisions A Historic Turnaround

Aakash Saini

Afghanistan team players [Source: @ACBofficials/x]Afghanistan team players [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

In a country where silence once echoed through empty grounds, the sound of cricket is slowly making its way back. Naseeb Khan, CEO of Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), has already seemingly mapped out a path toward hosting international matches on home soil in the near future.

For the past few years, Afghanistan’s hosting dreams have been living out of rented homes either in the UAE or India, with borrowed pitches keeping the flame alive as the war-torn nation waited for the day they could play under their own skies.

Afghanistan CEO Dreams Big, Promises Home Cricket For Fans

ACB CEO Naseeb Khan recently made a bold prediction, expressing confidence that Afghanistan will be ready to host international cricket within the next three to four years. Backing his claims on the basis of improved security and growing support from the global cricketing community, Khan also added that the ACB recently hosted the Wakhan T20 Cup in Kunduz near the Tajikistan border and another three-day competition in Helmand.

While speaking to Cricbuzz in an exclusive chat, the ACB CEO said:

“Before 2021, we couldn't even host domestic matches in many provinces due to conflict. But now, Alhamdulillah, there is peace across the country. We recently held the Wakhan T20 Cup in Kunduz, near the Tajikistan border, and a three-day tournament in Helmand, near Iran. These events show how far we've come. With continued improvements in security and support from the international cricketing community, I truly believe Afghanistan will host international cricket within the next three to four years.”

As Afghanistan’s long-term vision begins to take shape, their immediate focus shifts to the present, with a high-stakes international fixture just around the corner.

The Afghanistan cricket team is scheduled to travel to the UAE for the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup. Placed in Group B of the tournament, Afghanistan will launch their campaign with a match against Hong Kong on September 9, before crossing paths with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on September 16 and 18 respectively.