Afghanistan confirm their second home ground in India

Team Afghanistan has found a new home venue in India. A season ago, the spirited Afghanistani side had hosted the Ireland side for an ODI and a T20I series in India. Back then, the venue was Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida had served as the home venue for the Afghanistani side. Now, the team is in talks with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for a bilateral assignment.

The BCB have reportedly agreed to play against the Afghanistan team. The next big question that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had to address was the issue of narrowing down on a home venue for the proposed 3-match ODI series. And now, as the things have started to pan out, the team is set to host the Bangladeshi side at the picturesque venue in Dehradun.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Dehradun, which is located in the Raipur region of the city, is set to play the host for the series. The ACB officials recently confirmed the development as per the reports in Sports Star. They, however, refrained from making an official announcement on the same.

“Dehradun will be our second home in India. We will, in all likelihood, play Bangladesh there. But it is not absolutely finalised,” ACB CEO Shafiq Stanikzai quoted.

India’s response

Meanwhile, the authorities in the Uttarakhand state have maintained that the official declarations are yet to be made. Also, they admitted that the news of the Afghanistani side playing in Dehradun is the true one. Furthermore, the players will find the climate suitable in the venue which works as a strong proposition. The venue in Dehradun was inaugurated in 2016.

“There hasn’t been any official announcement on this yet, but it is true that Afghans will play games here,” District Cricket Association, Dehradun’s vice-president, Dheeraj Khare, remarked.

What about UAE?

The ACB also had the option to think about UAE as an option for their home venue. However, the ACB Chief has noted that it is too early to take a call on the same. Also, he added that the venue in Noida will also remain as a home venue for the side.

“The venue at Greater Noida will remain. As far as UAE is concerned, it is too early to comment on anything,” ACB chief Mashal conceded on the developments.

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