Afghanistan hopeful of hosting an ICC tournament soon: Gulbadin Naib

Afghanistan’s senior all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has expressed optimism about the future of cricket in the country, revealing that Afghanistan is hopeful of hosting an ICC tournament in the near future.

In an interview with CricTracker, Naib highlighted the positive developments in Afghan cricket and the growing interest from international teams to tour the country.

“We recently concluded the SCL (Shpageeza Cricket League) 2025 season. We are hopeful of hosting the ICC tournament soon, thanks to the efforts being put in by our cricket board and management,” Naib stated.

With the return of competitive domestic cricket and improving infrastructure, Naib said that the environment is becoming increasingly suitable for international events. “A lot of countries are also willing to tour Afghanistan for international games. So, we’re hopeful of an ICC tournament as well in the country.”

Naib also spoke about the role of international leagues—like the IPL and ILT20—in shaping Afghanistan’s talent and raising the profile of Afghan cricket globally. He credited the IPL for its impact, saying,  “our cricket is progressing well globally, and I feel that the stage we are at is largely due to the significant impact of the IPL on Afghanistan cricket.”

Afghanistan has made impressive strides in international cricket over the past decade, with strong performances in both the ODI and T20 World Cups, including memorable matches against top teams like Australia, India, and Pakistan. Naib believes this upward trajectory, coupled with growing experience and international exposure, could soon lead to the country becoming a host for global events.