Sport | Cricket
Exciting clash on the cards in Sharjah
Pakistan and Afghanistan to meet in first ODI at the historic venue
- By K.R. Nayar, Chief Cricket Writer
- Published: 00:00 December 20, 2011
- Image Credit: AP
- Shahid Afridi
Sharjah: The Sharjah Cricket Council is expecting to see another full house when they host the much-anticipated One Day International between Pakistan and Afghanistan on February 10.
The majority of expatriates from Afghanistan in the UAE live in and around Sharjah and until now they have had little choice but to support Pakistan whenever their neighbours have played against other countries. Now, for the first time, they will cheer their own team on UAE turf.
And, as Afghanistan have official ICC status, the match will be considered a One Day International and so will swell the tally of Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which has already hosted a world record 201 one-dayers.
"It will be another crowd-puller like the Pakistan-Sri Lanka one-day match held at this stadium last month. We are expecting a full house for the match," Mazhar Khan, administrator of the Emirates Cricket Board and secretary of Sharjah Cricket Council, told Gulf News.
"The match is being held on a Friday and it should be convenient for all the fans. The ticket rates will be the same as we charged for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka one-day match.
Security concerns
"We are yet to finalise whether it will be a day-night match, but it will be an exciting contest."
Last week Afghanistan lifted the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Twenty20 World Cup in Nepal to ensure they will play in the World Twenty20 qualifiers.
Afghanistan have been using Sharjah Cricket Stadium as their home ground as foreign teams have refused to play in their country due to security concerns. Pakistan are also playing in the UAE due to security threats in their country.
Interestingly, Afghanistan's fans are ardent supporters of Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi and it will be interesting to see their response to him during this match.
Most of the Afghanistan players have sharpened their skills by playing in Pakistan's domestic cricket league, but this will be the first One Day International match to be played between the two neighbours.
Afghanistan have some very good players, such as their skipper Nawroz Mangal, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad and paceman Hamid Hassan.
The match will also help Pakistan gear up for the four-match One Day Internationals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai against England, which will start at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium on February 13.
More from Cricket
More from Sport
Multimedia
Sport Editor's choice
-
A Christian comment: France can flourish
World Cup-winner Karembeu predicts big things for his country
-
Japan in quarters of AFC Futsal championship
Thrash Tajikistan 6-1 at al wasl club to seal place in knockout
-
High-quality runners set for action
Field includes Smart-trained Group 1 winners Aziz, Harran and Areej
