Kabul, Sept. 2: In an indication that the brand new Taliban regime in Afghanistan could permit sporting occasions to go forward, a high official of the Afghan Cricket Board advised The Indian Express on Wednesday that the group’s tour of Australia this yr, which is able to embody the primary Test between the 2 shall embody. Two nations obtained inexperienced sign

According to Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer Hamid Shinwari, the group can be prone to go to India for the Test sequence subsequent yr.

“The Taliban authorities is supporting cricket and all our cricket will probably be carried out as per schedule. A spokesman for the Taliban Cultural Commission advised us that the Taliban would assist a Test match towards Australia adopted by a Test sequence towards India within the first quarter of 2022.

The Test towards Australia is to be performed in Hobart from 27 November to 1 December. It was initially scheduled for final yr when the Covid pandemic and journey restrictions prevented it from being held.

Before the Australia tour, Afghanistan will take part within the T20 World Cup within the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 15. However, a bilateral ODI sequence towards Pakistan has been postponed until subsequent yr.

“They (Taliban) are supporting cricket and we have got the green signal from them. This is a clear message to the youth that they will support sports. This is the best sign,” mentioned Shinwari.

However, when requested about the way forward for ladies’s cricket, Shinwari mentioned: “We don’t know at the moment. The government will decide on it.”

The Afghan nationwide males’s group was shaped after the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001. Thereafter, the group progressed quickly and was granted full-man Test standing by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2017.

Last yr, the ACB had awarded central contracts to 25 ladies cricketers. But now, if the ladies’s group is disbanded, it might threaten the nation’s place within the governing physique.

Shinwari mentioned a number of different worldwide assignments are within the conceptual stage. “We are engaged on a T20 tri-series, which is able to embody Afghanistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka. It will most likely be organized within the UAE earlier than the T20 World Cup. There will most likely be a camp for our nationwide group in Qatar earlier than the tri-series.

The CEO mentioned that home cricket tournaments may also begin quickly. “We will play one-day match with all our provinces. We name it a List A match. We will quickly launch it in our nation and will probably be broadcast the world over.”

Earlier, a number of days after the Taliban got here to energy, Shinwari had mentioned that cricket has gained extensive acceptance in Afghanistan. “The great thing about cricket is that it’s liked by everybody. No matter what the scenario. For the final 20 years, we now have been getting assist from all sections of the society together with the Taliban. We do not see any loss for the cricketers, we have not seen a single casualty within the final 20 years. I do not see any drawback with sports activities, particularly cricket.-Agencies