Xtra Time Web Desk: The participation of Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 looks to be in serious doubts. Such a situation has arisen if Afghanistan participate the marquee event under the Taliban flag as they might face expulsion from the T20 World Cup slated to begin in UAE from next month.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been waiting anxiously for an update on Afghan cricket. The 16 teams, participating in the event, will have to submit their flags under which they will be playing.
Ever since the Talibans took control of Afghanistan Cricket Board, they have imposed a ban on lot of things. Women’s cricket has been banned under the Taliban regime due to which their maiden test match against Australia at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart looks to be in serious doubts. The Taliban Government has also suspended the telecast of IPL 2021 matches due to anti Islam content.
Recently, Hamid Shinwari was sacked as the chief executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board and Naseeb Zadran Khan replaced him. It’s learned that the Taliban played a major role in taking the decision. Although it’s yet not confirmed under which flag the Afghan cricket team will be asked to play in the World Cup, the ICC is monitoring the situation with caution.
As per a report in The Telegraph, the world cricket body will call an emergent meeting to decide the fate of the participation of Afghanistan in the event if they wish to play under Taliban flag. In the board meeting, the members could go on to vote the Asian team out of the competition. Afghanistan are scheduled to play their first game on October 25 in Sharjah.