Afghanistan cancels friendly T20 matches against Pakistan

KABUL/LAHORE: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has cancelled a two-match friendly T20 series against Pakistan just a week after it was finalized between the two cricket boards. No official reason has been provided by the ACB for cancellation of the series.

The decision from the ACB has come in the wake of a bomb blast in Kabul that killed over 80 people.

@ACBofficials cancells friendly matches including initially agreed terms of mutual cricketing relationship with @TheRealPCB#kabulblast

— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) May 31, 2017

The two boards had come to an agreement last week to revive broken ties by playing two friendly matches in each country. As part of the agreement, the PCB was also to provide Afghanistan with venues for training and conditioning camps, and the possibility of reciprocal tours between the youth and senior teams.

A similar deal between the boards was also signed in 2013, when Afghanistan cricketers were given access to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Eventually, however, the ACB took to using facilities in Greater Noida in India to train players for tournaments.

Last week, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan addressed a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart, and confirmed the two match series.

They also agreed to strengthen bilateral cricket relations and host a series in the future. Furthermore, Pakistan will host series between the A and U19 cricket teams. Pakistan will help Afghanistan become a permanent member of the International Cricket Country which it currently has an associate status.

The PCB also agreed to provide biomechanics facility to Afghan players to test bowlers’ actions, and provide training to their umpires, coaches and trainers.