Taliban issues a green light; Afghanistan's board of directors is considering travels to Australia and India.

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Thursday, 2nd September 2021

A top official of the Afghan cricket board told The Indian Express Wednesday that the team's tour of Australia this year, which will include the first-ever Test between the two countries, has received the green light, indicating that the new Taliban regime in Afghanistan may allow sporting events to take place.

According to Hamid Shinwari, chief executive officer of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the team could also tour India for a Test series next year.

“The Taliban regime has been a strong supporter of cricket, and all of our matches will be held on time. “A representative for the Taliban Cultural Commission informed us that the Taliban will support the Test match against Australia in the first quarter of 2022, followed by a Test series against India,” Shinwari said.

The Test against Australia is scheduled for November 27 to December 1 in Hobart. It was supposed to happen last year, but the Covid epidemic and travel restrictions prevented it from happening.

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Afghanistan will compete in the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 15. A bilateral ODI series against Pakistan, on the other hand, has been postponed till next year.

“They (the Taliban) support cricket, and we have received their blessing. It sends a strong message to the children that sports will be supported. Shinwari stated, "That is the best sign."

Shinwari, on the other hand, when asked about the future of women's cricket, remarked, "We don't know at the time." It will be decided by the government.”

After the Taliban were deposed in 2001, the Afghan national men's team was founded. The squad progressed well after that, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave full-member Test status to the side in 2017.

The ACB awarded central contracts to 25 female cricketers last year. However, if the women's squad is dismantled, the country's place in the governing body may be jeopardised.

Several more overseas projects, according to Shinwari, are still in the planning stages. “We're planning a T20 tri-series with Afghanistan, the West Indies, and Sri Lanka. It will most likely take place in the UAE before to the T20 World Cup. Before the tri-series, we'll hold a camp for our national squad, most likely in Qatar,” he stated.

Domestic cricket events, according to the CEO, will begin soon. “All of our provinces will compete in a one-day event. It's known as the List A Tournament. We'll start it shortly in our country, and it'll be broadcast globally,” he stated.

Shinwari has previously stated that cricket was widely accepted in Afghanistan, just days after the Taliban rose to power. “The beauty of cricket is that everyone enjoys it. Whatever the case may be. We have had backing from all parts of society, including the Taliban, over the past 20 years. We don't perceive any danger to the cricketers, and in the last 20 years, we haven't seen a single casualty. He had stated, "I don't see any problem with the sports, particularly cricket."

The News Talkie Bureau

Source

Indianexpress.