Afghanistan’s cricketers began a four-week training camp in Pakistan on Thursday as their coach set the minnows’ sights firmly on qualifying for the 2015 World Cup. The Afghans will face a Pakistan A side in three games before their international clashes with Scotland in the United Arab Emirates in March. Coach Kabir Khan said he wanted his players to make the most of their time in Pakistan as they prepare to challenge for a place at the 11th edition of the World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand. Afghanistan narrowly missed out on a place at the 2011 World Cup in India when they finished fifth in the qualifying rounds. But their performance was enough to earn them the right to play one-day internationals. “We have one-day status till 2015 and it would be great if we achieve our target by playing well against Scotland and other minor teams in the World League and other qualifying matches,” said Khan, who played four tests and 10 ODIs for Pakistan.
