South Africa wicket-keeper batsman Morne van Wyk, who represented Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL) franchise Mis Ainak Knights during the professional Twenty20 league, has expressed satisfaction for security measure and is enthusiastic to fly Afghanistan for the sixth edition in 2018.
“It is hard to say but I probably would go back in future‚” Van Wyk was quoted as saying by the Times.
However, unfortunately on September 13, when van Wyk was playing alongside his countryman Cameron Delport during a game against the Boost Defenders when the suicide bowler blew himself outside the stadium near one of the checkpoints which left at least three dead and 13 wounded.
The Cricket South Africa like counterpart Zimbabwe invalidated the No Objection Certificates (NOC) for their players while expressing the concern over players’ safety.
“Our NOCs were revoked by CSA based of the situation but the tournament has gone on and at that stage it was not my decision to come back home,” van Wyk asserted.
(Read report: Zimbabwe Cricket Recall Cricketers From Afghanistan’s T20 Shpazeega Cricket League)
In a bid to represent the SCL outfit Knights and avail the opportunity, van Wyk is excited to be the part of competition while expressing his delight to be the part of the T20 league in a war-torn country.
“It is also hard for me to say whether I would have preferred to stay on because the decision was taken out of my hands for good reasons,” van Wyk maintained.
Former Proteas top-order batsman Herschelle also returned to the country after enjoying the coaching stint the with Speenghar Tigers in SCL.
Van Wyk reiterated the Kabul had been a great host for the fifth edition and the people in the country have been hospitable while adding the decision of the Board is for the benefit and safety of the players.
“The city Kabul was brilliant‚ we stayed in a good hotel and people were hospitable. In a sense you can completely understand CSA’s point of view because they look after our interests,” van Wyk concluded.
In the end, Van Wyk, who was taken by surprise, expresses his solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, as he revealed the spectators thronged to the stadium in huge numbers despite the bomb blast, as he feels the sport will win over political turmoil.
(Read Also: Afghanistan President Meets Shpageeza Leagues Players, Coaches)
Earlier, the tournament kicked-off on September 11 at the Alokozay Kabul International Stadium in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
The 38-year-old right-handed batsman van Wyk has been the part of domestic South African club Dolphins before bursting onto the international scene in 2007 against Pakistan at Johannesburg.
Van Wyk played 17 ODIs, 8 T20Is for the Proteas. He is averaging 37.50 in 20-over format and 26.56 in 50-over competition.
The previous international fixture of van Wyk came against New Zealand in August 2015.