Afghanistan set sights on Division 3

The victorious Afghanistan players were treated like national heroes on their return to Kabul this week fresh from their win in the World Cricket League Division 4 tournament in Tanzania.

"As a lot of people are following us going to the World Cup," said Basheer Stanekzai, the Afghanistan Cricket Federation's general manager marketing and the assistant manager of the national team.

"We had a large media coverage when we arrived to Kabul - three TV channels telecast live from airport, we were welcomed by cabinet ministers, members of parliament and members of the National Olympic Committee."

The ACF already has plans for two camps as part of its preparations for the Division 3 tournament in Argentina in January.

The first camp will be held in Peshawar, Pakistan, and from a pool of 25 players, the final squad of 14 for Argentina will be selected.

Stanekzai said it was hoped the final squad would then assemble for a month-long camp in India as an acclimatisation method.

"As the weather in Argentina will be warm, we are looking at a warm place in India." Should Afghanistan reach the final of the Division 3 tournament it would then proceed to the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa in April.

During their march along the World Cricket League, Afghanistan won the Division 4 and Division 5 tournaments, playing 12 games, winning 10, losing just the one. They were unbeaten in the stronger Division 4 tournament.

Standing in its way in Division 3 are Argentina, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.