Afghanistan to play Australia at World Cup

John Harnden, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Chief Executive congratulated Afghanistan on becoming the second team to fill one of the four qualifying spots for the tournament.

“This is a major achievement for Afghanistan and we look forward to welcoming them to Australia and New Zealand in 2015. The squad will travel to five separate cities across the two countries for their six pool matches including taking on hosts Australia in Perth and New Zealand in Napier.”

The Asian nation booked a place at the tournament for the first time by beating Kenya in Sharjah on Friday in the last match of the World Cricket League one-day qualifying tournament.

The seven-wicket win was their ninth out of 14 games and lifted them past the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands into second place in the final standings.

Afghanistan and Ireland, who were winners of the eight-team league, fill two of the four qualifying berths at the World Cup to be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia early in 2015.

The six other teams will be part of a 10-team tournament staged in New Zealand in January and February to determine the two remaining qualifiers.

Afghanistan have been part of two world Twenty20 tournaments but this will be their first appearance at a 50-over World Cup.

Three of their six Pool A games will be in Australia and the other three across the Tasman in New Zealand.

Afghanistan will play its opening match in the tournament against Bangladesh at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on 18 February 2015. Its other Australian fixtures will be against Australia on 4 March 2015 at WACA Ground in Perth and England at SCG on 13 March in Sydney.