PCB Takes A Dig At ACB For Blaming Pakistan After Cancellation Of Bilateral Series

Dec 23, 2018 at 4:06 PM

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PCB Takes A Dig At ACB For Blaming Pakistan After Cancellation Of Bilateral Series

After around 90 innocent people were killed in Kabul bomb blast on Wednesday, May 31, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Thursday issued a strong-worded statement and in reply, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has termed the allegations ‘baseless’ while opining the Afghan board is trying to impinge politics in sports.

“The PCB strongly rejects the baseless allegations levelled by the ACB in the wake of the tragic Kabul blast,” a PCB statement read in reply to ACB’s statement.

However, PCB has shown sympathies with the victims’ families while adding ACB has tried to malign the name of Pakistan and terming the statement of the Mashal-led cricket board ‘irresponsible’ while putting the two-match Twenty20 International series on hold.

“While our sympathies are with the victims and families affected by the tragedy, we reject the irresponsible statement made by the ACB and hereby announce the cancellation of the proposed series between the two countries,” PCB statement read.

The statement revealed PCB has termed the ACB’s allegations baseless after being blamed indirectly for the Kabul blast which took place near the German Embassy close to the Presidential palace in the capital city of the war-torn country as the statement further read the cancellation of the two-match Twenty20 series with immediate effect.

“The informal understanding with ACB last weekend was strictly subject to conducive security conditions in Afghanistan and now stands cancelled because of continuing insecurity and instability there,” PCB statement maintained.

However, according to the Pakistan media, no group has claimed the attack, before Taliban has denied of being involved in the gruesome attack which left over 400 injured.

“The ACB hereby cancel all kinds of cricket matches and initial mutual relationship agreement with the PCB,” ACB stated on its official Facebook page.

Following the border skirmishes and escalating tensions in between, PCB and ACB members on last Saturday met in Lahore – to reunite for the bilateral ties as the two parties were looking to improve their relations which have been sour in the recent past.

Without declaring a specific date, Kabul was set to host the first Twenty20 International match in July, before a second T20 was scheduled in Lahore in July.

“It is also deeply regrettable that the ACB delegation in Pakistan was at pains to insist that politics should not impinge on cricket but has now turned around and is playing politics by laying the blame for its troubles and inadequacies on Pakistan,” release stated.

Shaharyar earlier revealed in the meeting with ACB Chairman Atif Mashal that they are looking forward to providing a stadium for Afghanistan players to get them trained and nurse the talent while being in Pakistan.

“PCB has always encouraged the development of cricket in Afghanistan and millions of Afghan refugees were first introduced to the game in Pakistan,” the statement added.

The statement revealed Pakistan was at the forefront to help Afghanistan cricket in the first instance as Inzamam-Ul-Haq has already been the head coach of the Afghan national side when he stepped down to hold the seat of the chief selector in PCB.

“Over the years, the PCB helped cricketers in Afghanistan develop their expertise and an entire generation of Afghan national players honed their cricketing skills in Pakistan,” the statement concluded.

However, PCB has given a verdict on the players, who have been picked by the franchise of the Shpageeza Cricket League during the 25th May’s players auction which saw Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Babar Azam among the picks including Mohammad Rizwan.

The Twenty20 competition will kick start on July 18 at the Kabul International Stadium.

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