India’s well-known dairy brand, Amul, will be sponsoring Afghanistan’s National Cricket Team for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, which is scheduled to begin on May 30.
WDIO news agency quoted MD of Amul RS Sodhi as saying that “Amul is the main sponsor”.
“On the arm and jersey, we will have Amul logo. It’s our first sponsorship of a cricket team. We have high hopes. Let us see how it goes,” he said.
“You know, cricket is number one sport in Afghanistan. Everyone love and likes cricket. Its good sign of peace. BCCI is helping us, and also the government, it’s a good opportunity. It will help in peace,” said Asadullah Khan, the CEO of Afghanistan Cricket Board, as quoted by WION news agency.
Amul is the first sponsor from India of an Afghan cricket team.
“India has helped us. Embassy of India has helped us. They are making grounds. They making ground in Kandahar. They promised us, they will make a rehab center in Kabul for Afghan cricket,” he added as quoted by WION.
According to WION, India is helping building Kandahar cricket stadium. With a capacity of 14,000, the stadium is being built with $1million grant from India. New Delhi is also building a stadium in Balkh.
Other than this, India is providing two “home grounds” in Greater Noida and Dehradun for Afghan team and also, technical and logistical support for players and the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
The national team will play a warm-up match with Pakistan on May 24 with England on May 27.
The schedule of World Cup matches of Afghanistan team is as follows:
- VS Australia on June 1
- VS Sri Lanka on June 4
- VS New Zealand on June 8
- VS South Africa on June 15
- VS England on June 18
- VS India on June 22
- VS Bangladesh on June 24
- VS Pakistan on June 29
- VS West Indies on July 4
