Head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team Rashid Latif on Monday said that the three-match one-day series against Pakistan A was a learning for the young team. “The Afghan players faced such a strong opposition for the first time and understandably felt the pressure as well,” he told a private TV channel. “However, I am sure that despite the defeat the valuable experience would help the team a great deal in the future,” former Pakistan Test captain Rashid said.
Led by Sohail Tanvir, Pakistan beat touring Afghanistan by five wickets at Diamond Ground in Islamabad in the first one-dayer. It was followed by Pakistan A’s massive 150 runs victory in Rawalpindi and visitors ended the tour with four wicket defeat in the third one-dayer in Faisalabad on Sunday. “After the first two matches, everything settled into the groove and Afghanistan fought well in the final encounter,” he added.
Rashid appreciated the gesture shown by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board for holding the series and hoped that it would pave the way for more visits by foreign teams to Pakistan.
He also urged other countries to invite Afghanistan for a series adding that the team would learn more with outside exposure.
Responding to a question, Rashid expressed the need for a modern academy at home and said that to compete at the highest level the Afghan cricket team required facilities at par with the rest of the world.
“All good teams carry a proficient support staff along with training facilities at home. To secure the cricketing future of Afghanistan, we need academies at home,” he said. “The Afghan cricket authorities are focused on this objectives and we will soon have a stadium and an academy in Afghanistan,” Rashid concluded.
Led by Sohail Tanvir, Pakistan beat touring Afghanistan by five wickets at Diamond Ground in Islamabad in the first one-dayer. It was followed by Pakistan A’s massive 150 runs victory in Rawalpindi and visitors ended the tour with four wicket defeat in the third one-dayer in Faisalabad on Sunday. “After the first two matches, everything settled into the groove and Afghanistan fought well in the final encounter,” he added.
Rashid appreciated the gesture shown by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board for holding the series and hoped that it would pave the way for more visits by foreign teams to Pakistan.
He also urged other countries to invite Afghanistan for a series adding that the team would learn more with outside exposure.
Responding to a question, Rashid expressed the need for a modern academy at home and said that to compete at the highest level the Afghan cricket team required facilities at par with the rest of the world.
“All good teams carry a proficient support staff along with training facilities at home. To secure the cricketing future of Afghanistan, we need academies at home,” he said. “The Afghan cricket authorities are focused on this objectives and we will soon have a stadium and an academy in Afghanistan,” Rashid concluded.
