KABUL: Afghanistan's cricket chief Thursday welcomed the prospect of a tour by England's Marylebone Cricket Club, but said he had so far had no contact from the venerable club about a possible visit.

MCC president Phillip Hodson told the BBC more than a week ago that he was going to Kabul to assess facilities and said the club could take a team to the war-torn country in the near future.

Cricket has taken off in Afghanistan in recent years, the national side earning one-day status in 2009 and appearing at the World Twenty20 the following year.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Nasimullah Danish said the Afghan cricket community was excited at the prospect of an MCC tour and urged Hodson to get in touch.

“As yet we have had no formal contact from the MCC or Mr Hodson regarding his visit to Kabul or plans for a tour but we are looking forward to hearing more and would like to have an opportunity to formally discuss a possible tour.”

Touring teams from MCC, which used to run English cricket and still retains worldwide responsibility for the sport's rules, usually comprise former professional cricketers alongside promising club players.

Danish said Afghanistan was up to hosting a visiting MCC side.

“We have no doubt that the ACB is able to achieve everything that a tour by the MCC would require,” said Danish.

Even the hardline Taliban have got behind the game in Afghanistan, sending a message of support when the national team played their first-ever one-day international against Pakistan in Sharjah in February.

Hodson ruffled feathers in neighbouring Pakistan when he told the BBC there was “much more chance” of taking a team to Afghanistan than to Pakistan.