The Kandahar International Cricket Stadium is set to be built in Aino Mina, a northern suburb of Kandahar on land donated to the Afghanistan Cricket Board in 2012.

The grant was approved under the Indian Government's Small Development Project Scheme.

A statement from the Indian Government said: "We [India] have recognised that sports, including cricket and football, have united the country and enthused the youth more than anything else.

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

The ACB's chief executive Dr Noor Murad thanked the Indian Government and the Indian Embassy in capital Kabul for approving the funds.

"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," he said.

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

Under the rule of the Taliban, sport was banned in Afghanistan but following the removal of the regime in 2001 after military intervention led by the United States and Britain organised cricket and sport in general is slowly being re-established.

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the country and its national cricket side has enjoyed success on the international stage.

Afghanistan's cricketers will be able to compete at a brand new stadium in Kandahar thanks to financial support from India ©AFP/Getty Images



Afghanistan has steadily moved up the world rankings over the past decade and in 2010 they qualified for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies before reaching the tournament in Sri Lanka again last year after finishing second to Ireland in qualifying.

They lost out to India and South Africa and India and England respectively in both tournaments.

The ICC granted Afghanistan associate status, one tier below Test nations earlier this year.

However, the pinnacle of their success so far came in October last year when they secured a first ever place at next year's Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

They beat Kenya in their final qualifying match in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to finish second behind Ireland in the World Cricket League.

They will take on hosts Australia and New Zealand as well Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and England during the tournament which is scheduled to run from February 14 to March 29.

The team's achievements were recognised in March when they were presented with the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award in Kuala Lumpur.

The team has just recently returned from a tour of Zimbabwe, where they won two one-day internationals, as well as an unofficial test match.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]