Cricket is bringing peace to war-ravaged Afghanistan and can further stabilise the country if foreign teams tour, an official said Sunday. Afghanistan took a big step at international level by playing former world champions Australia on Saturday, their second limited overs match following their first against Pakistan six months earlier.
Despite their 66-run defeat, Afghanistan put up a great fight, further hinting they can improve if given more chances against top teams.
Afghanistan Cricket Board president Omar Zakhilwal believes the Australia match will go a long way in promoting the game and, in turn, peace in his country.
"It's a great occasion," Zakhilwal told AFP. "The one-day matches with Pakistan and Australia will go a long way in promoting cricket which is bringing peace in our country."
Cricket has attained enormous popularity in the country which has been mired in conflict since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001 with United States-led coalition forces still fighting insurgency and extremism.
Cricket has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last three years after it was introduced by youths who learnt the game in refugee camps in Pakistan following the Soviet invasion of their country in 1979.