Just a few days ahead of completing their journey in the ongoing Cricket World Cup, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) suddenly omitted Aftab Alam from the 15-member World Cup squad. In that time, the ACB didn’t clarify the reason for this sudden exclusion. Now, the latest media reports are claiming that the ACB took that decision after the allegations against Alam of misbehaviour with a female guest at a hotel.
On 27th June, the ACB announced Aftab Alam’s exclusion from the World Cup squad. The 24-year-old left-arm medium pacer Sayed Shirzad replaced him for the remainder of the tournament. According to the ICC media release, that replacement happened under “exceptional circumstances”.
Later, the ACB also added that Alam breached ICC’s disciplinary code of conduct.
According to the latest report of ESPNcricinfo, Alam is now facing enquiry on the allegations of misbehaviour with a female guest at the team hotel in Southampton.
In another case, the ESPNcricinfo also reported that hospitality security removed Aftab Alam during the recent CWC match between India and Pakistan. On 16th June, India and Pakistan met at Old Trafford (Manchester) where India won by 89 runs (DLS method).
Apart from Aftab Alam’s suspension, the ACB also decided to suspend the team manager Naved Sayem.
Aftab Alam was found to hide things from the ACB: an ACB board member
Taking about Aftab Alam’s suspension, Atif Mashal told ESPNcricinfo, “He was found to hide things from the ACB. That is why it was decided to suspend him and investigate. As for the player (Alam), we will formalise the sanction against him once the disciplinary committee submits its report.”
Atif Mashal is a board member of the ACB.
He further added about the latest development, “The disciplinary committee has already been assigned to carry out the investigation in the Alam incident and asked to submit the report in a week.”
After an investigation, the ICC’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) has found Aftab Alam guilty of inappropriate behaviour.
Alam was also absent during the ACU meeting in Southampton on 23rd June. He was not even in his room, and later it emerged that he met with a relative in London. The head coach Phil Simmons then suspended Alam for two matches. The 26-year-old couldn’t even practice with the team during those suspension days. Soon, the ACB also suspended him and removed him from the World Cup squad.
In this Cricket World Cup, the right-arm medium-fast bowler Aftab Alam played three matches and picked up four wickets. During the New Zealand match at Taunton, Alam delivered his best bowling performance in this tournament. In that game, he had the bowling figures of 8.1-0-45-3.