The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cricket development and expanding sports cooperation between the two neighboring countries, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said Monday.
The agreement was signed on 1 December 2025 during a
ceremony attended by ACB CEO Naseeb Khan, ACB board member Dr. Khalid Hatam,
Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan (CFU) Chairman Aziz Mihliev, and CFU CEO Fazliddin
Ibodullaev, according to the ACB statement.
Under the MoU, the ACB will provide wide-ranging technical
and developmental assistance to Uzbekistan, including coaching education,
umpire and match-official training, strength and conditioning programs,
physiotherapy support, video analysis, talent identification, and technical
courses. Development camps led by elite Afghan coaches will also be organized
for Uzbek players and staff.
The ACB will additionally support Uzbek coaches through ICC
tutor pathways and invite Uzbekistan’s players to train at the ACB
High-Performance Center in Kabul.
As part of the cooperation, Afghanistan’s A team, domestic
champions, and U19 squad will take part in bilateral fixtures hosted by
Uzbekistan—match opportunities intended to accelerate on-field development for
the CFU.
The agreement is expected to deepen regional sporting ties
and bolster Uzbekistan’s efforts to establish itself as an emerging cricket
nation.
“We welcome this partnership with CFU,” ACB CEO Naseeb Khan
said. “ACB is committed to supporting emerging cricket nations with the same
dedication that accelerated our own growth, and we look forward to sharing our
technical expertise and experience.”
Dr. Khalid Hatam, an ACB board member, said the MoU
“strengthens regional cricket ties and creates new pathways in coaching, player
development, and technical growth.”
CFU Chairman Aziz Mihliev said Uzbekistan values the
partnership, noting that Afghanistan’s experience in building competitive
systems and nurturing elite talent “will be invaluable” for strengthening their
cricket foundation.
CFU CEO Fazliddin Ibodullaev described Afghanistan’s rapid
rise as “a compelling model” for emerging cricket nations and said the
partnership provides Uzbekistan “a unique opportunity to learn from a proven,
accelerated development trajectory.”
