Iran under-19 cricket coach Asghar Ali Raeisi has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to help them in building the first cricket stadium in the country in Chabahar.

Established in 1992, the Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone (CFZ) has reserved 40 hectares for a sports village out of which 10 hectares have been allotted for a cricket stadium with a 4000-seat capacity. However, because of US sanctions on Iran, the country has been unable to gather the resources to complete the stadium, reports ANI.

“Iranian players have talent to play good cricket internationally. But we fail to train them due to lack of infrastructure. I wanted India to help us to build the stadium so Iranian players can prove their mettle in the world,” Raeisi told ANI.

“We want Indian cricket management BCCI to train our players and umpiring in Iran so our players also can play cricket well. We would also expect Iranian players to be part to IPL matches,” he added.

Iran first competed in the ACC Trophy in 2006, when it failed to reach the knockout stage, before taking part in the ACC Trophy Challenge in 2009 after the continent's teams were split into two sections. Iran finished third in its group before overcoming Brunei in the fifth place play-off, read the ICC website.