Lahore (Pakistan): The International Cricket Council (ICC) aims to develop the game in war-ravaged Afghanistan where interest in cricket remains massive despite decades of conflict, ICC officials said on Tuesday. "ICC is very keen on developing cricket in Afghanistan, and what we gather from reports and correspondence, the amount of cricket interest is huge," ICC development manager Richard Ead of New Zealand said. Afghan cricket captain Allah Dad Noori and other officials "have shown their keenness, and ICC would be more than willing to help", said Ead, who was in the border city of Lahore this week to attend an ICC development meeting. The sport is once again planting roots in the troubled country after the fall of the hardline Taleban regime one year ago, when a US-led coalition launched its war on terrorism following last year's September 11 attacks. Cricket has now reportedly surpassed football as the most popular sport in Afghanistan. Over 100 registered clubs play the game but lack proper facilities and equipment. Two years ago ICC sent cricket equipment to Afghanistan and last year permitted its national team to play in Pakistan's non-first class tournament, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy grade-II, where it lost five of the six matches. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is responsible for development of the game in the country and will soon send a development manager to assess what more is required to promote the game, Ead said. On Pakistan's request, the ICC granted Afghanistan affiliate membership. "Our aim is to first make Afghanistan competitive enough at the Asian level, and for that we must chalk out plans," said ACC development manager Zakir Hussain Syed of Pakistan.

Tags: lahore, pakistan, international cricket council, icc aims, develop game, war-ravaged afghanistan, interest remains massive, decades of conflict, development manager, new zealand, captain, lahore, hardline taleban regime, us-led coalition launched war on terrorism, football, most popular sport, registered clubs, proper facilities, equipment, non-first class tournament, trophy, lost, matches, affiliate membership, asian level.