Beyond the Test World
June 5, 2010
Posted by Tony Munro on 06/05/2010 in Afghanistan
Afghanistan player strike averted for now


The strike had threatened to boycott the tour of Netherlands in July © Getty Images
 


A crisis meeting between the Afghanistan Cricket Federation and national team players has agreed to establish a four-member group of "impartial" persons to find and present a solution to several of the players’ grievances in "three or four days time" to the ACF chairman, Hazrat Omer Zakhailwal.

The agreement has averted a strike, for now at least, by the majority of the leading Afghanistan national players who had threatened to boycott the ICC World Cricket League Division One tournament in Netherlands from July 1-10, unless several conditions were met.

These had included the replacement of either the CEO, Dr Aimal Shenwari or Chief Selector, Dr Hamid Shenwari with Raees Ahmadzai, a long term member of the national team who recently retired from Twenty 20 and multi-day cricket.

The main cause of disenchantment was a belief within the team the ACF's CEO, Dr Aimal Shenwari and the Chief Selector, Dr Hamid Shenwari’s backgrounds did not provide them with sufficient knowledge about the game to carry out their positions.

Discontent within the team began festering shortly after the World Twenty20 last month. Allrounder Ahmadzai announced his retirement from Twenty20 and multi-day cricket for the national team, allegedly on the understanding a position within the ACF related to team development would be created for him. This did not eventuate and then Ahmadzai was omitted from the WCL Division One squad, although he had declared his availability for the 50-over squad.

On top of Ahmadzai's omission from the Division One squad was the demotion of Mohammad Nabi, widely regarded as the team's best player, from the vice-captaincy role in favour of the less experienced Mirwais Ashraf. Nabi's demotion is believed to have resulted partly from a disagreement Nabi and Ahmadzai had with ACFofficials and partly from Ashraf's performance in the match against South Africa when he was the team's top scorer with 23 from 22 balls.

The captain, Nowroz Mangal, had told Cricinfo prior to the meeting he was strongly in favour of strike action if Dr. Aimal Shenwari and Dr. Hamid Shenwari retained their posts.

Comments (20)
Posted by: Iqbal SH at June 5, 2010 5:29 PM

Here the real game started. Still nothing wait to see the politicians get involved. REAL SHAME, it is sport and it is for the Nation not for their own pockets or damn politics. WAIT and SEE MORE....

Posted by: Khwajah Mustafa seddiqi at June 6, 2010 5:03 AM

Will if the team don't feel comfortable with these mention people why they are sending those people who cannot provide best guides to them , and i hope this issue would be solved soon because these kind of indiscipline will destroy the team and we are witness of the Pakistan team which has effect the performance.

Posted by: Ali at June 6, 2010 6:15 AM

There is a big problem in the team, the 6 players with the coach they dont want to be removed from the team. they think they inherated teh crckit and no body can remove them from the game even if they dont perform. Pakistan once decided to removed all big names when they felt they were not good for teh future of the country.
If we want to institutionalize the cricket in afghanistan, the Cricket management should excludes the players from involving in the mangement.
This is a good time for afghanistan to invest on the youngsters and also bring some good players that help the country to go to world cup. al these players are abve 30s even they have officially written less then 25. we need youngster there.
The decision is perfect about Nabi Ahmadzai, as his performence was affected by being vice Capt. of the team. he needs some time to get better, but still its the board decision who to appoint caption or Vice Capt.

Posted by: From Afghanistan at June 6, 2010 7:44 AM

I think at the moment there should great focus on cricket and the players should be appreciated for their efforts through out these years and should be given a chance in Administration as well and in my opinion the cricket board should be consist of ppl with cricketing background not political and financial backgrounds. I hope the problem is solved soon and in good manner and the team remains powerful and united.

Posted by: Adro Gul stanikzai at June 6, 2010 10:06 AM

Well, i can see the future of Afghanistan's cricket which will not be as good as it should be, the cheif selector is the best person, and is the qualified one in all over Afghanistan, Raees Ahmadzai will defintely destroy the cricket of Afghanistan, he has announced his retirment that he will be the cheif selector, but after hiring of Dr.Hamid Shinwari again he said that he is just retired from twenty20 and test,

Posted by: From Afghanistan at June 6, 2010 10:13 AM

I think at the moment there should great focus on cricket and the players should be appreciated for their efforts through out these years and should be given a chance in Administration as well and in my opinion the cricket board should be consist of ppl with cricketing background not political and financial backgrounds. I hope the problem is solved soon and in good manner and the team remains powerful and united.

Posted by: Aryoub at June 6, 2010 11:16 AM

I hope everythings gets well soon

Posted by: EbadurRahman at June 6, 2010 12:18 PM

Just take Dr.ajmal&Dr.hamid from ACF problems will be solved it self Nabi must be the captian &he need shahzad as vice-captian Nowroz mangal must be sent out & given rest for some time

Posted by: Khadiullah at June 6, 2010 2:06 PM

for god sake Afghan gov nd cricketers, before we were stuggling to get ODI status and become a proper team but now we have a great team which can still improve alot, and is strike issues. comeo on and grow up.... what is wrong with you lot.... i thouht you lot were not playing or money but or pride.......

Posted by: Asif haytey at June 7, 2010 1:48 AM

Mr zakihwall has thretand to step down as well this will be a big loss for afghan cricket

Posted by: محمدحامد at June 7, 2010 2:29 AM

None of these guys are playing for the deprived nation of afghanistan they're all just playing for their pockets and for money cause they haven't seen this amount of money yet.This is what they have planned to find more money because there is a six member special group in the afghan national team Which includes the retired Raees Khan.This group told Raess To retire and we will give you this post and you'll get money and we will distribute it among us this all happening here

Posted by: syed at June 7, 2010 2:52 AM

shame on president karzy and on his companions because all them are thieves . in other hand these players realy scarified since 2008. with no salary and any other helps . i think crew of the cricket should be remoud as soon as possible .

Posted by: hamayunsafi at June 7, 2010 4:39 AM

Dear this is the reality that we afghan want do work in every part but we know that i m not the right person but also want work

Posted by: ajmal at June 7, 2010 5:08 AM

We wants the players who play well for the country, such as M. Nabi, Noroz mangal,Hamid Hassan, Hasti Gul, Karim Sadiq, Miwais Ashraf, Noor Ali, Shapoor Zadran, and all the other players who played so far for afghanistan.

Posted by: Darya Khan shiwnawri at June 7, 2010 6:20 AM

It is very big shame for Raes ahmadzai at the riterment time he said that i am giving chance for younger player in that way i take Riterment but he Riter hiself for chair
it is a big shame for him
it is a time to give chance for younger player

Posted by: Zabihullah Akhterzai at June 7, 2010 7:23 AM

This is what we all were expecting from Afghanistan Cricket Board Officials. Curruption is existed there on a very low level of 50 50 provincial tournament where, many suitable players have left out from the game. but on level of representing our country internationally we humbly and gentely request the cricket board officials to leave thier jobs and resign, if players are not comfortable with them. Because Afghan nation expects you to prefere country and nation benefits than your own.
So for the sake of God Mr. Shinwaries leave your posts for those whith whom the players are more comfortable and let them play with the spirits of nation expectations.

and I have a specail request from our national players to look at and learn from Pakistan cricket team how much they suffered, so please dont forget the current situation of your county "Broken Afghanistan".

Thank you All,

Zabihullah Akhterzai

Posted by: Tariq Shinwari at June 7, 2010 10:27 AM

ohhhhh nice planing by the players they r talking about Dr.Hamid Shinwari that he dose not have skill of cricket totally wrong now bodies knows more about him then me. he has Played Cricket for 25 years. now the justice is in afghans poeple to say that weather that he has a skill or not.

Posted by: Shak at June 7, 2010 7:35 PM

Nothing in hands just an ODI status and feeling like a king of cricket. i think they are learning something from pakistani team, and that is politics in team.

Posted by: Afghanzoy at June 8, 2010 7:54 AM

Salam. Its great pity. I dont know why they are not doing the right thing. I request all to put thier differences aside and work for the betterment of team and posts to those who deserve it. Its just begining for afghanistan still a very long way to go. I really want to see afghanistan top of the world.

Posted by: Turba at July 31, 2010 12:43 PM

Itx pity to hear. Afghan has a great fan following apart frm d country unles of other associates n affiliates. Even maself rooted them wit ma altime favourite RSA. Itx not nly coz of their fairy tale hail but of their unity n passion too. u guys r nw following d othr big bullies frm asia.. viz paki for their politics, team india n lanka for their $greed.
Well choice is urs, wanna be a happy end or a tragic

Name: Email Address:
Comments: characters left
Latest News
Specials
© ESPN EMEA Ltd
?>