NEW DELHI, June 30: Cricket officials from Afghanistan are currently touring India looking for sponsors, coaches and gear in a bid to develop the sport in their war-torn country.

Afghanistan Cricket Federation president Allah Dad Noorie met his Indian counterpart Jagmohan Dalmiya over the weekend and was assured complete support for rebuilding cricket facilities.

“Thanks to Dalmiya, officials from the Asian Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India will visit Kabul later this year to study the prevailing conditions and see what more can be done,” Noorie said.

“We have no funds. We have the full support of our government, but we need to raise money from sponsors to develop cricket in Afghanisan.

“Cricket is already very popular in our country and will become even more popular among children if we can provide good facilities.”

Noorie said he had short-listed three Indian companies who have business interests in Afghanisan to request them to fund the sport.

“We want to use cricket as a vehicle for peace in our country and there is no better ally than India with whom Afghanisan has close ties.”—AFP