Asian Games: Afghan cricketers to play in Asian Games

KABUL(PAN): Afghanistan's cricket board (ACB) on Thursday said the national team would participate in the 16th Asian Games beginning November 12 in China.

Part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the games would continue till November 27, with opening ceremonies starting November 12.

Cricket has been included for the first time in the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province.

Afghan national cricket team would leave for the southern host city Guangzhou on November 21, three days before the cricket competition begins November 24, said Elham Yasini, ACB public relations official.

According to Yasini, the cricket event was being participated by 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal and Singapore.

He said the participating teams had been divided into two classes, A and B, in line with their international standards.

Yasini said since the Indian team was not taking part in the cricket episode, Afghanistan had been placed in the class-A.

The official said the weak teams would take on each other and a team from them reaching the quarterfinals would face their strong counterparts.

"If Afghanistan win their opener, they will play in the semifinals against Pakistan," Yasini said.