After rejecting allegations from Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday has barred its players from participating in the upcoming Twenty20 Shpageeza Cricket League which is scheduled to kick off on July 18 at the Kabul International Stadium.
“The PCB announces that none of the players antermd officials (coaches) contracted to Afghanistan T20 league would be issued NOCs,” the PCB release stated.
After at least 90 lives were claimed by a truck-bomb blast in Kabul on May 31 which prompted ACB to make a stern statement while indirectly referring Pakistan responsible for the attack before calling off the series.
In reply, PCB termed the allegations and statement ‘baseless and irresponsible’ while adding ACB is trying to impinge politics in sports adding they are putting an end to the series which they have had proposed recently with ACB
The release further stated no official can participate in the T20 competition a day after PCB cancelled the two-match friendly series which was scheduled in July and August in Kabul and Lahore.
“No Pakistani player or official can feature in the league,” it added.
However, during the meeting in last month between ACB Chairman Atif Mashal and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan discussed the bilateral ties as they briefed the media persons in Lahore.
Both parties wanted to bridge the gap through rich cricketing ties in cricket, in order to help both the countries – to come closer after border skirmishes escalated the tensions in the recent past.
As the Shpageeza Cricket League has availed the services of players from the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh the six franchises picked around six Pakistani players in its players’ auction deal on May 25.
“The PCB strongly rejects the baseless allegations levelled by the ACB in the wake of the tragic Kabul blast,” a PCB statement read.
The player’s list included Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Babar Azam, Rumman Raees, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Rizwan and Sohail Khan.
“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 added earlier.
However, Shaharyar Khan, who has been a force to reckon for Pakistan cricket revealed they have always been at the forefront to help Afghanistan in gentleman’s game while adding.
In the recent past, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-Ul-Haq has been the part of Afghanistan national cricket team as a chief coach, under whom the players have shown quality improvement before taking a role as a chief selector for PCB.