Afghanistan Cricket Board Might Restrict Player Participation In T20 Leagues

Afghanistan Cricket Board might restrict their players’ participation in the T20 leagues around the globe to ensure their participation in the domestic tournaments. Till now, it is believed that these players might be allowed to play only three franchisee-based leagues in a year according to their choice.

The ACB has formed a 14-member committee to review and observe the cricket structure in the country and come up with a plan of action to raise the standards of the game. The committee members will report back to the top officials of the ACB after making a report on future plans to take the game forward.

Afghanistan players participate in the leagues such as the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League, The Hundred, Bangladesh Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, Big Bash League in Australia. Their participation in these means they miss the domestic tournaments. Raees Ahmadzai, one of the members of the committee has revealed that his co-members will speak to the ACB higher-ups regarding the participation of the top players in the domestic tournaments.

ACB might reduce player participation in T20 leagues

“Our (Technical committee) plan is to discuss with ACB high-ups regarding the participation of our leading national cricketers in the domestic tournament,” Raees Ahmadzai, part of the newly-formed technical committee, told Cricbuzz. “Maybe the Afghanistan Cricket Board will reduce their (players’) participation in different franchise leagues and ask the players to take part in only three franchise-based T20 leagues in a year and they can choose their options as it is their choice.”

Ahmadzai added that the committee feels the board needs to follow the same path as the top Test nations follow. In top Test nations, first-class cricket is a top priority. The committee feels that the players need to play four-day games to get selected in the longest format.

“There are the recommendations from the selection committee – that in different Test nations, first-class cricket is a priority and we have to follow the same path as players will need to play first-class cricket to get selected in Test squad,” Ahmadzai added. “You know T20 team selection is easy as most of our players are playing in different T20 leagues around the world. But when your top cricketers are not participating in domestic cricket, then the new generation will not become good cricketers. So let’s see but I am sure more than 90% national players will take part in domestic cricket from next year,” he said.

The former Afghanistan cricketer further added that the committee wants to see pitch curators make pitches that are helpful for the fast bowlers in four-day games.

”For the next season you know we want to prepare a good fast bowling wicket, good seaming wicket, bouncy wicket. And the cricket committee discussed… you know we need a good curator to help the other local curators to make a new good wicket for the fast bowlers,” the former Afghanistan cricketer further added.

ACB’s 14-member technical committee includes – Abdulwali Amin, Ahmad Shah Suliman Khil, Allah Dad Noori, Dawlat Khan Ahmadzai, Ihsan Obaid, Menhaj Raz, Mohammad Khan, Nazeem Jar, Mohammad Salam Afghan, Nawroz Mangal, Noor Malikzai, Raees Khan Ahmadzai, Shahid Alokozai and Taj Malik Alam.

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