Afghanistan cricket is heading toward a major structural shift, with newly appointed High Performance Center manager Dawlat Khan Ahmadzai laying out a bold blueprint for the future. His mission is not just to improve training at the center in Kabul, but to spread elite development across the country and build a system that can consistently produce international players.
Ahmadzai’s vision is ambitious, but it is also practical. He wants regional high-performance centres, stronger player pathways, better injury management and closer integration between the High Performance Center, domestic cricket and the national team. In his view, Afghanistan’s cricketing talent is widespread — the challenge is making sure that talent is developed in the right environment.
A push to decentralise high-performance cricket
One of Ahmadzai’s biggest priorities is to move away from a system that places too much responsibility on Kabul alone. He believes that concentrating resources in one city limits access for gifted players from other regions.
“The biggest change I want to bring is to decentralize high performance through regional HPC centers,” Ahmadzai said, underlining the scale of his plan. “Afghanistan has talent across different regions, and we need to take high-performance resources, coaching, S&C, sports science, medical support and performance analysis closer to those players.”
That shift would create Regional High-Performance Centers, or RHPCs, designed to bring expert support closer to young cricketers. For Ahmadzai, this is about building a wider and more sustainable talent pool, rather than relying on a narrow pipeline.
Why regional access matters
Afghanistan has long been seen as a nation with raw cricketing ability, but Ahmadzai says talent alone is not enough. The system, he argues, must identify players early and support them according to their individual needs.
He wants coaching, sports science, strength and conditioning, medical services and performance analysis to be available beyond the main facility. That, he believes, will improve both reach and quality.
In simple terms, the goal is to make sure a talented player from any region can access the same level of development support as a player in Kabul.
Connecting development with selection
Ahmadzai’s plan goes beyond facilities. He also wants the High Performance Center to play a formal role in selection and progression decisions, creating a clearer link between performance and opportunity.
He explained that the selection panel should receive written HPC performance reports on relevant players, giving a clearer view of who is ready for the next step and who still needs more development.
“I believe the selection panel should receive a written HPC performance report on relevant players,” he said. “Clearly stating whether a player is ready to compete at the next level, needs more development, or should remain at the main HPC or a regional center for further preparation.”
That approach could help reduce the disconnect that often exists between training environments and selection decisions. For Ahmadzai, the HPC should not sit apart from the national team structure. Instead, it should work as part of one integrated system.
One system, one pathway
He wants the HPC, national team and domestic system to function with shared objectives and clear communication. That, he believes, is the only way to build lasting progress.
“My vision is for the HPC, national team and domestic system to work as one integrated performance system,” Ahmadzai said. “With clear communication, shared objectives and defined responsibilities.”
The message is clear: success should not be measured only by how many players graduate to the senior side. The HPC must also improve the long-term development of centrally contracted players and provide a stronger foundation for future squads.
A three-to-five-year roadmap for Afghanistan cricket
Ahmadzai has set himself a three-to-five-year timeline to deliver these changes. His focus is on continuity, something he feels has been missing across the Afghan player pathway.
He pointed to a common problem in player development: when cricketers move from one level to another, their progress often restarts instead of continuing. That, he said, weakens the system.
“The biggest issue I see is continuity and alignment across the entire player pathway,” Ahmadzai said. “A player’s development should not restart every time he moves from one level to another.”
To fix that, he wants a unified national development structure connecting talent identification, U19 cricket, domestic competition, Afghanistan A and the senior national team.
| Priority Area | Ahmadzai’s Focus |
|---|---|
| Regional access | RHPCs across Afghanistan |
| Player pathway | U19 to national team continuity |
| Selection process | HPC reports for progression |
| Support staff | Improved coaching and specialist quality |
| Player welfare | Better injury prevention and rehab |
He also wants more meaningful junior competitions inside the domestic structure so young players get regular competitive cricket before entering professional pathways. That, he believes, will produce more ready-made players and reduce gaps in development.
Building depth, discipline and responsibility
Ahmadzai’s blueprint also places strong emphasis on people. He wants better coaches, stronger support staff and more advanced return-to-play systems to protect players and extend careers.
He also wants cricketers to take greater ownership of their own growth. In his view, the system can only succeed if players understand that development is a shared effort.
“The HPC should provide the environment, expertise, resources and direction,” he said. “But players must understand that their development is ultimately their responsibility.”
That message reflects the broader culture he wants to build: one built on professionalism, accountability and long-term planning rather than short-term fixes.
“We should not wait for talented players to appear. We should build a system capable of consistently identifying, developing and producing international cricketers.”
If Ahmadzai succeeds, Afghanistan cricket could gain something bigger than a stronger training center. It could gain a lasting development model, one that feeds the senior team with more depth, more competition and more prepared players from every corner of the country.
