MUMBAI: Taliban leader Anas Haqqani met Afghanistan national cricket team captain Hashmatullah Shahidi on Saturday where he affirmed that the new fundamentalist regime
that is now running the strife-torn country would continue to support the game.
Asserting that the “Islamic Emirate” laid the foundation of cricket in Afghanistan, Anas Haqqani interacted with Hashmatullah Shahidi and members of the Afghanistan cricket team and selection board. Afghan cricketer Noor Ali Zadran and former cricket board selection committee chairman Asadullah Khan were also a part of the meeting with the Taliban.
Close on the heels of Haqqani’s assurance, the Afghanistan Cricket Board declared that Shpageeza Cricket League, the ACB’s franchise based T20 tournament, had added two more teams to the till now 6-team tournament.
The ACB said that the first time in Shpageeza Cricket League history, the tournament will include eight franchises instead of six.
The ownership rights for all the eight franchises were declared sold Saturday at a ceremony held at the ACB head office in Kabul. Hindukush Stars and Pamir Zalmiyan were the two new franchises inducted into the league this year.
Addressing the event, ACB CEO Dr Hamid Shinwari said the addition of two new franchises to Shpageeza Cricket League as a step in the right direction and thanked the investors and franchise owners for their contribution.
Shinwari called the role of business community vital in cricket’s further development in the country. He further added, “This time round, SCL will provide audiences and fans with a new experience. It will also be great financially for players.”
On behalf of franchise owners, Band-e Amir Dragons’ franchise owner Anwar Mukhles expressed his thanks to ACB. He added, “ I would like to thank all franchise owners who will ensure that people in Afghanistan will enjoy the game of cricket amid recent events unfolding in the country. Our national players will play in their own country and will also entertain their fans here.”
The eighth edition of Shpageeza Cricket League is scheduled to run from September 10-25 at Kabul Cricket Stadium.
The eight franchises were sold to the following companies respectively:
Hindukush Stars – Rapid Pay Distributions Logistics Services
Pamir Zalmiyan – Aero Parcel Ltd.
Speenghar Tigers – Shir Zaland Steel Mills Company
Kabul Eagles – Ayoubi Darulmomtaz Construction Company
Amo Sharks – Sahak Mutehida Trading Company
Bost Defenders – Shir wali Yari Trading Company
Band-e Amir Dragons – Wali Rawan Ltd
Mis-e Ainak Knights – Qeisar Baba Ltd
