New Delhi: Cricket There will be no casualties in the wake of drastic political change in Afghanistan, assuring the CEO of the country’s cricket board, Hamid Shinwari, that the Taliban “loving” and “supporting” the game.
Speaking to PTI from Kabul, Shinwari also assured that the members of the national team and their families are safe as the Taliban took over the reins of the country.
Star players including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Zadran are playing in the ‘Hundred’ tournament in Britain.
“The Taliban love cricket. He has supported us from the very beginning. They did not interfere with our activities,” Shinwari said.
“I don’t see any interference and we look forward to the support so that our cricket can go ahead. We have got an active chairman, I will continue as CEO until further notice,” said the top official of the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
The rise of cricket in the country coincided with the Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001, when many Afghan refugees in neighboring Pakistan took up the sport.
“It can be said that cricket flourished during the Taliban era. It is also a fact that many of our players practiced in Peshawar and they mainstreamed the game in Afghanistan.
“The good thing is that we are moving towards normalcy. People have started working. We will resume our office from tomorrow and the ongoing national camp ahead of the Pakistan series in Sri Lanka will also resume after a two-day break with regime change.”
Talking about the safety of the players, he said: “Four or five players who are playing overseas, all the rest are in Kabul. Like I said, they are safe and fine.”
The BCCI is also monitoring the developments and is looking forward to see the participation of Afghan players in the India Premier League.
“It is too early to comment but we are keeping an eye. Nothing changes for us and we hope Rashid and other Afghan players will be a part of the IPL.
Afghanistan is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Pakistan in Colombo from September 1.
Shinwari said all their scheduled bilateral series are on track and all three IPL-bound players Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb have received NOC from the board to participate in the cash-rich event ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“We do not see any cricket activity being affected by the change in governance,” Shinwari said.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has been associated with the ‘Hundred’ event in the UK, said Rashid is naturally concerned about the situation at home.
He said, ‘We had a long conversation here on the boundary talking about this and he is worried. He can’t get his family out of Afghanistan and a lot is happening to him,” Pietersen told Sky Sports.
“For him to turn on and perform like this under such pressure … the most heartwarming stories of this hundred ever.”
Asadullah Khan, who resigned as Afghanistan’s chief selector earlier this month, also feels cricket will not suffer under Taliban rule.
“I have personally been to areas where the Taliban were ruled. He liked this game very much. So it should not be an issue in this respect.
Referring to the frequent administrative changes under the leadership of the board and the national team, Khan said, “Too much political interference in cricket has negatively affected the game in the last 24 months and this needs to change.”
Shinwari said he expects major cricketing powers, including the BCCI, to play with him more often, which will take a major hit on his finances and the health of the sport in the country.
“We want to establish regular bilateral cricket ties with all the legendary cricket players including the BCCI which has always been with us,” he added.
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