Domestic cricket mandatory for senior Afghanistan cricketers to claim Test spots

Afghanistan’s senior team members, if available, could have to take part in domestic first-class tournaments for them to claim a place in the national Test squad. The possible regulation is likely to be one of the plans that the newly appointed Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB)’s chairman, Mirwais Ashraf is going to implement.

As per Ashraf’s decision, it will be ‘mandatory’ for the senior cricketers to feature in Afghanistan’s first-class circuit to be considered for Test selections. The ACB has included three T20 events, four one-day competitions which also include a List A tournament, two longer-version competitions, and also an age-level cricket event for the 2022 domestic calendar.

Commenting on the same Ashraf stated that for the growth of a cricketing nation it is of utmost importance to focus well on the domestic structure and continue to make it stronger. He also added that a competitive first-class structure shall help the team prepare for the ICC Test Championship.

Earlier, our stars like Rashid and Nabi used to play, but there was war in our country: ACB CEO

Notably, senior Afghan cricketer, Rashid Khan, had recently stated that for him playing for his country is always ahead of any franchise-based T20 leagues around the world. However, he along with the other members of the national team have not been able to play much domestic cricket in the recent past on the back of the recent turmoil in the war-torn nation.

ACB CEO, Naseeb Khan, commented on similar lines crediting seniors like Rashid and Mohammad Nabi for prioritizing domestic cricket up until recently with social/political conflicts hindering their availability.

“If seniors are available, then they should play in the first-class cricket competition. Earlier, our stars like Rashid and Nabi used to play, but there was war in our country. Now, the situation has totally changed and we can go anywhere by road. Now the situation is improving and we will ask them to play our first-class cricket,” said Naseeb as quoted by Cricbuzz.