Afghanistan Gets Stadium Funding Boost From India

The Indian government has approved a grant of $US 1 million for the development of a new cricket stadium in Afghanistan's Kandahar province.

The stadium will be built on land donated to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) at Aino Mina, a new suburb on the northern edge of Kandahar City in the south of the country.

The grant is the result of lengthy discussions and has been approved under the Indian government's Small Development Project scheme.

Construction will now begin as soon as possible.

"We have recognised that sports, including cricket and football, have united the country and enthused the youth more than anything else," a statement announcing the grant read.

"We hope that this new facility, and the various initiatives taken by ACB, will further popularise cricket and bring greater glory to the nation.

"This was a project that ACB has been closely following with us and we will be working with them to have the work started on this important project at the earliest."

Dr Noor Mohammad Murad, ACB chief executive officer added: "The construction of this stadium will be a major boost to the development of cricket in the southern region as well as in the whole country.

Kandarhar is an important centre for cricket and the game is already very popular there.

"The addition of this facility will allow greater developments in terms of coaching and performance as well as regular competitions.

"The players and tens of thousands of fans in that region will benefit."