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In a major setback following a ban on Afghanistan women’s cricket team, men’s cricket is also set to get banned in the country. While the prominent Taliban ruled country in 2021 banned female sports, causing massive uproar around the world, men’s cricket is also nearing its ban as the Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada has been against the sport.
According to a report from Wion, Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada has announced a gradual ban on cricket, however, there isn’t any official communication on the same. As per the report, he believes that cricket has a harmful influence on the country and is against the Sharia law. This has put the country divided into two sects after Sirajuddin Haqqani, the brother of Anas Haqqani supported and invested largely in cricket in Afghanistan.
Although there hasn't been any official communication regarding the same, the Afghanistan cricket team currently continues to play the sport and will take on South Africa in Sharjah, UAE.
Afghanistan name squad for South Africa ODIs; Rashid Khan returns
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) recently named their squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. Notably, Afghanistan is scheduled to play against South Africa in the 50-over series, which will commence from September 18 in Sharjah. Rashid Khan , the star Afghan spinner, who was not named in the one-off Test match against New Zealand , will return to action, however, top-order batter, Ibrahim Zadran will not be available due to an ankle injury.
Apart from Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman is also recovering from a sprain in his right phalanx and the side has named Darwish Rasooli and Abdul Malik as the two new players after their exceptional performances in List A tournament. "However, we have included some of the top-performing youngsters in Abdul Malik and Darwish Rasooli. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar is also a talented cricketer and has demonstrated excellent skills recently and will cover for Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the series," said Chief Selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil in a statement, as per IANS.
The upcoming series will be the first time the two nations will lock horns in a bilateral ODI series. In 2019 and 2023 World Cups, the two teams faced off twice in the 50-over format with South Africa coming out on top on both those occasions.
Afghanistan squad for ODI series vs South Africa
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik
