Senior pro Mohammed Shahzad, who followed protocol and reported an approach to his team management and, through them, to the International Cricket Council (ICC), had actually received a call on his cellphone.
As first reported by The Telegraph on Monday, the approach to Shahzad was not for the ongoing Asia Cup, but the forthcoming T20 Afghanistan Premier League.
In all probability, Shahzad received the call at some point late on Friday/early Saturday.
Confirming this newspaper’s report, Basheer Stanekzai, who is the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB)’s director of cricket and the tournament director for the inaugural League, said: “The approach wasn’t really of a criminal nature, but when Shahzad told us, we made it clear he had every right to inform the ICC as well…
“If any player or official has doubts about any individual, then the ICC’s protocol states it must be informed. We are happy that Shahzad chose to keep his conscience absolutely clean.”
Shahzad, by the way, scored 124 off just 116 balls, in Tuesday’s inconsequential match against India.
Stanekzai revealed that he’d himself come face-to-face with a person during the Afghanistan vs Bangladesh T20I series in Dehradun this summer. “He pointedly asked what would happen the next day (Afghanistan, as it turned out, won the series 3-0)…
“I did not feel comfortable with that question and, so, went straight to the ICC…
“Afghanistan are a recent cricket-playing nation and, given the talent we possess, it’s possible that our players will be targeted. They have been educated as also the officials on the administrative side and the support staff.”
Stanekzai added: “That Shahzad reported the call to the ICC has sent a strong signal that no player from Afghanistan will engage in anything not proper…
“In a way, the Shahzad episode has conveyed an unambiguous message to those who may have been planning mischief that they would be wasting time by trying to corrupt the League.”
To ensure that the League, to be held in Sharjah next month, doesn’t attract investments from unwelcome organisations/individuals, the Board is getting everything vetted by the ICC. For the first few years, the League is to be held in the UAE, but could move to India thereafter.
