We Have Assured Afghanistan Players Regarding Current Situation In Country Is Secured, States Azizullah Fazli

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) acting chairman Azizullah Fazli said the board spoke to national players to assure them about the current situation in the country is secure.

Things have not been great in Afghanistan after the military organisation Taliban return to the country after 20 years to take over the power from the presidential rule. The country is going through turmoil with many of its citizens planning to leave the country, as scenes at the Kabul International Airport are disturbing to watch.

We have spoken to those players who were worried about the political situation in Afghanistan: Azizullah Fazli

Fazli, who was recently appointed the position of acting chairman by ACB, said the team players are in a good mood after the board assured them about the situation in the country is safe.

“We have spoken to those players who were worried about the political situation in Afghanistan. We have assured them regarding the current situation and that the country is secure. Now, they are in a good mood,” Fazli told New Indian Express.

“We will have a camp for the Afghanistan cricket team in a foreign country to ensure they will be well prepared for the T20 World Cup commencing in October in UAE and Oman,” he added.

Pakistan vs Afghanistan series will be played in 2022: Azizullah Fazli

Afghanistan were scheduled to play Pakistan in a three-match ODI series but due to many reasons, the series was postponed. The ODI matches were slated to be played in Sri Lanka after it was moved from UAE because of IPL 2021 and the Sri Lankan government imposed a 10-day nationwide lockdown because of which the boards decided to move it to Pakistan.

Fazli said the bilateral series, which was supposed to be the first between the two teams, will be played in 2022 with the venue yet to be decided. “Both the teams will play the series in 2022. The venue has not been finalised yet,” Fazli said.

Fazli, who has worked with ACB for almost two years, said his aim is to organise the country’s local T20 tournament- Shpageeza Cricket League.

“After the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate took control of the country, they decided to look for the right and deserving person to lead the cricket board. Finally, they appointed me as the chairman. It has to be mentioned here that I have worked for Afghanistan cricket development for nearly two decades,” Fazli said.

“ It’s my first week into the job and we are already on our way to organise Shpageeza Tournament, a local T20 league being organised by the board. I hope we will continue doing the good work,” he added.

Afghanistan are grouped with India and Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

Also Read: Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Reappoints Azizullah Fazli As Board’s Acting Chairman