There's one international team that doesn't have a problem with playing cricket in Pakistan.

That's Afghanistan!

They have had a dream run leading up to the ICC World Cup qualifiers winning all the World Cricket Leagues.

Afghanistan have a real shot at playing the 2011 World Cup and they are currently in Pakistan, training for the qualifiers.

Quite brave of them to be in Pakistan, but then when you think of what is going on in their own country, Pakistan appears to be a "safe" bet.

I went through the Aghanistan squad for the World Cup qualifiers and was surprised to see 1 name.

That of Rafatullah Mohmand.

Rafatullah is a big name in the domestic circuit in Pakistan.

He plays for Peshawar and Habib Bank, both under current Pakistan skipper Younis Khan.

Younis has rated him highly in the past.

I've seen Rafatullah bat on a few occassions - some T20 innings and 1 pentangular and he is a more than decent bat.

He's got more that 12 years of experience at the first class level.

Earlier this decade, around 2001-02, Rafatullah had a very succesful domestic season and he was being considered as a future opener for Pakistan when they were looking for replacements for Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail.

For some reason Rafatullah never made it.

But now he has a chance to play international cricket.

For Afghanistan!

I wonder how that was made possible since he is a Pakistani.