Afghanistan’s cricket series with Pakistan is set to go ahead as scheduled, despite the surrounding uncertainty following the Taliban’s takeover of the country. The three-match ODI series will take place in Sri Lanka, a venue decided before political events in recent days saw the Taliban take charge following the withdrawal of western forces and the collapse of the elected government.
All three games will be played in Hambantota. The series is due to begin from September 3, but will involve a three-day quarantine period on arrival for both sides.
ACB CEO Hamid Shinwari said “Cricket is doing very well. “We are going to the office”. We are committed to sending a team to Sri Lanka as soon as possible. There is transition going on here in Afghanistan hence there is a vacuum in flight operations and availability is affected. We have our boys assembled in Kabul and they are preparing for the series.
There remain longer-term questions around the Taliban’s approach to the development of the game in the country. It is worth noting that the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (as the Afghanistan Cricket Board was then known) was formed in 1997, during the Taliban’s first stint in rule and they were inducted into the Asian Cricket Council not long after.
The game was at a different stage then to where it is now in the country and in much better health. The ICC is monitoring the situation as of now, with a little concern, but will provide support when and if needed. Shinwari was confident the game would not be affected adversely. “They [Taliban] are supporting cricket ever since the beginning,” he said. “They never had any issue with cricket. The thing is people love cricket here in Afghanistan and that’s why it has to go with the flow. My confidence that cricket will not be affected is because of two factors: firstly, the legacy. Cricket development in Afghanistan was initiated during Taliban’s first stint 20 years ago. Secondly ACB offices are operating. So far we have seen no issues on practical matters of playing cricket.
Squad:
Afghanistan
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Noor Ahmad, Ikram Alikhil, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdul Rahman, Shahidullah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran
Schedule:
Date and Time Match Details
Wed, Sep 01
09:45 AM GMT | 10:45 AM LOCAL
Afghanistan vs Pakistan, 1st ODI
Pakistan Tour of Afghanistan, 2021
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
Fri, Sep 03
09:45 AM GMT | 10:45 AM LOCAL
Afghanistan vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI
Pakistan Tour of Afghanistan, 2021
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
Sun, Sep 05
09:45 AM GMT | 10:45 AM LOCAL
Afghanistan vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI
Pakistan Tour of Afghanistan, 2021
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
