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Afghanistan cricket team is all set to take off on October 6 for the seventh T20 World Cup, which begins from 17 October in the UAE. Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) chairman Azizullah Fazli confirmed that the players playing in the Everest Premier League (EPL) in Nepal will join rest of the team members, who are already in the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, the board’s chairman and members of the ACB introduced new members to the Cricket Board in a press conference in Kabul. The conference conducted at ACB, welcomed Sayeed Jalal Karim, Haji Mehboob Seddiqi, Haji Obaidullah Sadr Khel, Abdul Rahman Alokozai, Haji Naimatullah, Mohammad Younis Mohmand and Azizullah Fazli. Two more members will be introduced soon. Fazli said the members have been appointed by the chief minister of the newly-appointed Taliban government.
The ACB chairman also confirmed national team’s sponsorship of 450,000 USD for the T20 World Cup by an Afghan businessman.
A change in the country’s ruling government also saw changes in the ACB. It saw the exit of CEO Hamid Shinwari who was replaced by Naseebullah Haqqani. The sub-continent team’s three-match ODI series against Pakistan got cancelled and their one-off Test against Australia has been also postponed indefinitely.
Right before the quadrennial event, star bowler Rashid Khan decided to step down from the captaincy citing lack of communication from the board with regards to the T20 World Cup squad. As a result, Mohammed Nabi was given the top role to lead the country for the marquee event.
Afghanistan made their T20 World Cup debut in 2010 in the West Indies and was clubbed in Group C along with India and South Africa losing their first match against India by eight wickets.
Afghanistan are in Group B along with India, Pakistan and New Zealand. Nabi and his men will take on Pakistan on October 29, India on November 3 and will face the Kiwis on November 7.
