The Taliban have sacked the executive director of Afghanistan’s cricket board. Hamid Shinwari shared the post on his official Facebook account on Monday that he had been fired by Anas Haqqani, the younger brother of the Taliban’s new Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. The former ACB chief also said that he was not given any explanation whatsoever for his sacking by the Anas Haqqani. He further added that he was not given any reason for his dismissal.
According to the reports, it is still not clear if the new ACB chief is a relative of Sirajuddin Haqqani. Haqqani is the same person, who the police are investigating for his connection with several attacks on Kabul during the Taliban’s war with the USA-backed government. In April 2021, Hamid Shinwari was named as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Afagnaistan cricket board replacing Rahmatullah Qureishi. Shinwari has also previously served with ACB as its CEO between 2010 and 2012 as well.
According to ACB, Shinwari’s academic qualifications include a Ph.D. in health policy. And management from Nanjing Medical University in China. He also has a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Queensland in Australia. Apart from medical qualifications, he has also obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from Preston University.
Hamid Shinwari prompted the world not to isolate Afghanistan
“We ask Cricket Australia and the whole cricketing world to keep the door open for us. Walk with us, do not isolate us, and avoid penalizing us for our cultural and religious environment,” Shinwari had said in a statement.
After sacking Shinwari, the ACB on their official Facebook page also announced Naseebullah Haqqani as the new chief.
‘No alternative’ but to cancel Afghanistan test match following Taliban stance on women’s sport: Cricket Australia
The newly formed government in Kabul has shown their support to the Afghanistan men’s cricket team for the tour of Australia for the historic Test match as well as the T20 World Cup. But the Taliban has reported a ban on women of Afghanistan for playing sport. Last week, the Australian Cricket Board canceled a Test match with Afghanistan’s cricket team to protest the banning of women from sports in Afghanistan.
“Driving the growth of women’s cricket globally is incredibly important to Cricket Australia. Our vision for cricket is that it is a sport for all. And we support the game unequivocally for women at every level.” the CA statement said
“If recent media reports that women’s cricket will not be supported in Afghanistan are substantiated. Then Cricket Australia would have no alternative but to not host Afghanistan for the proposed Test Match due to be played in Hobart. We thank the Australian and Tasmanian Governments for their support on this important issue.”