How Afghanistan’s cricket resurgence took root in Sharjah
Azmatullah Omarzai rides on the shoulders of an Afghanistan teammate as they celebrate after winning the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match against England in Lahore, Pakistan. (AP Photo)
Though Afghanistan had Greater Noida as their home base for a while, since the pandemic they have moved to Sharjah. Many of their key players – like veteran spinner Mohammed Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat – call the city their home. It is not just the top stars from Afghanistan who call the city their home. Of the 300 players enrolled at Sharjah’s Cricket Academy, almost 75 percent are Afghans. The Ramadan tournament, played in a T20 format, starts around the UAE on Friday, and there is a scramble among teams to get hold of Afghan players. (READ MORE)
