Afghanistan cricket in turmoil - A sense of deja-vu before a major ICC event

An ICC event and drama when it comes to Afghanistan cricket team captaincy. Does it evoke a sense of deja-vu? The recent developments in the last 24 hours from the time of Afghanistan’s squad announcement to Rashid Khan’s withdrawal as the captain give a sense that this had to happen. In the 2019 ICC World Cup, Gulbadin Naib was appointed as the captain in place of Asghar Afghan as a last-minute change. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi were not happy with the decision. It turned out to be a disastrous World Cup for Afghanistan as they lost all their games, some by close margins to India and Pakistan.

Now, two years later, whatever were the lessons in the 2019 World Cup have not been learned. Afghanistan, a team that has excelled occasionally, are now in strife just before the tournament. When the squad was announced, Rashid Khan said he was stepping down from captaincy. The reason, “His consent was not taking for the team selection.”

The problems mount for Afghanistan

The ongoing development continues the ongoing problems for Afghanistan. The historic Test which they were supposed to play against Australia in Hobart now stands on the verge of cancellation. This has happened because the Taliban government is not encouraging the growth of women’s cricket in Afghanistan. Cricket Australia has waded into that political stance and decided that the Test against Afghanistan will not take place.

When the Taliban took over the country, the Afghanistan Cricket Board stated that the women’s cricket program will be in threat. This was confirmed by the Taliban Cultural Commission when it said women will not be allowed to play cricket. In addition to political turmoil and this situation, the dark times are back for Afghanistan cricket.

The curious case of selection

The ICC rules permit the selection of 15 players in the side. But, curiously, the Afghanistan side selected 18 players which included the reserves. Earlier in the year, the chief selector of the Afghanistan Cricket Board had resigned. The reason was ‘too much interference’ and ‘interference from non-cricketers.’ All this is making the Afghanistan cricket board a melting pot of disarray and confusion in the cricket world.

If one has to look at the squad, there are some names who have made big strides for Afghanistan cricket. Mohammad Shahzad, who is the X-factor for Afghanistan at the top, is back after being suspended for one year due to a failed dope test. There are veterans like Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, and Dawlat Zadran. With Mujeeb Ur Rahman also in the side, the Afghanistan side is potent.

Dark times for Afghanistan

With the takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the dark times have returned to the country. If one has to look at it from a broader perspective, the Taliban have never been against cricket. Why? Because it suited their warped version of ‘cultural modesty’. But, with all the turmoil, whatever infrastructure they built in the last decade might all go to waste.

In the decade the country recovered from the war and the ouster of the Taliban, the country made giant strides in cricket. They participated in the ICC World T20 for the first time in 2010 and they made their ODI debut in 2015. They won by one wicket against Scotland in Dunedin. In Test cricket, they have achieved wins against Ireland and Bangladesh.

Players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have all played in the prestigious Indian Premier League in addition to T20 leagues in the West Indies, Australia, and in England. Rashid has emerged as the bonafide superstar of the country while others have gained tremendous experience.

The current situation is a cycle of sadness that continues to engulf Afghanistan cricketers and the country. If they can sort it out and perform brilliantly in the ICC World T20 2021, it will be a cricket miracle. Otherwise, it is once again a dark descent into the abyss. This will be a sad chapter in the history of cricket for a nation where hope is fading.