ECB responds to call for help from Afghanistan

Amani High School with Kwik cricket sets donated by ECB

As part of an appeal by Afghan national coach Taj Malik, for help in developing cricket in his war-weary country, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has responded positively.

The ECB was quick to provide six sets of Kwik Cricket equipment, designed to introduce cricket to schoolchildren via the British Embassy in Kabul. The equipment has already been distributed to schools by the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (ACF).

In a message from Afghanistan to Wisden CricInfo, Taj Malik said, "We are grateful to Wisden CricInfo for bringing out cricket news from Afghanistan to the world and we are hopeful of receiving more help in other donations from the cricket world. This equipment has been distributed to local schools."

He added, "The ACF GM Abdul Khalil, director of the Kabul Cricket Association Khaliq Dad Noori, the political advisor from the British Embassy and I went to six high schools in Kabul and gave them the equipment."

The recipient schools included Amani, Isteqlal, Habibia, Khushal Khan and Nadaria High Schools.

Habibia High School with Kwik cricket sets donated by ECB

Taj Malik further reported, "When we reached the schools to distribute the equipment and to invite kids to play and learn, the staff welcomed us and requested to help make teams. They collected kids for us who were very happy to see and play with the equipment. The kids said 'we love cricket', some of them told me 'I am a bowler' and others claimed 'I can bat very will'."

"We gave them some coaching and instructions and promised we'd be back for more training soon."

This ever-effusive and committed coach finished his message with a request and a firm but intriguing promise, "So I request cricket playing nations, cricket lovers and businessmen to help me in my project because very soon the world of cricket will see that Afghanistan is the most popular cricket playing nation."

Take out your worry beads cricket playing countries - watch out for cricket to flourish in Afghanistan and get ready for battle on a cricket field!