KABUL: (Middle East Press) German government will spend €700,000 to build a new cricket stadium in eastern Khost province, reports say.
The commitment by German government comes as the government of India pledged $1 million for the construction of a cricket ground in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan.
The new cricket stadium in Khost province will be constructed on 25 acres of land which will have a capacity of 6000 people.
Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Shahzada Masoud told AFP at the Asian Games, “We are grateful to both India and Germany for their assistance.”
Shahzada Masoud also hoped that the key teams such as India tours Afghanistan and play matches. “But what we want now is for teams like India to come any play on our grounds.
It would have been so exciting if Sachin Tendulkar had come and played in our country. I hope Mahendra Singh Dhoni can make it,” he said,
Cricket has become massively popular after Afghanistan’s showing in the Asia Cup and the World T20.
Afghanistan also qualified for the 2015 World Cup last year and received $1 million from the ICC to help prepare for the tournament, in addition to the $422,000 awarded in April 2013 as part of the ICC’s Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme.