With Afghanistan in turmoil, there are apprehensions about the future of their cricket team, who had impressed the world in the last few years with their steady improvement.

Even as Rashid Khan, the most famous and successful Afghan cricketer appealed for “Peace” through his Twitter account, the country’s cricket Board believes that the game will not be a casualty.

“Taliban loves cricket. They have supported us since the beginning. They did not interfere in our activities,” said Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Hamid Shinwari. “I don’t see any interference and expect support so that our cricket can move forward. We have got an active chairman, I remain CEO until further notice,” he added.

Shinwari also assured that members of the national team and their families are safe. Star players, including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Zadran, are playing in the UK at present in the Hundred tournament. “Other than four or five players who are playing overseas, the rest are all in Kabul. Like I said, they are safe and doing fine.”

Cricket’s rise in the country coincided with the Taliban’s rule between 1996 and 2001 with many Afghan refugees in neighbouring Pakistan picking up the sport.

“It can be said that cricket flourished during the Taliban era. It is also a fact that many of our players practised in Peshawar and they made the sport mainstream in Afghanistan. The good thing is that we are heading towards normalcy. We will resume our office from tomorrow (Tuesday) and the national camp which was underway ahead of the Pakistan series in Sri Lanka will also resume,” said Shinwari.

The BCCI is also keeping an eye on the developments and is hoping to see participation of Afghan players in the IPL. “It is too early to comment but we are keeping a watch. For us, nothing changes and we expect that Rashid and the other Afghan players would be a part of the IPL,” a BCCI source said.

Afghanistan are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Pakistan in Colombo from September 1.

Shinwari said all their scheduled bilateral series remain on track and all three IPL-bound players — Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb — have got

NOCs from the Board to take part in the event ahead of the T20 World Cup.