LAHORE: While the two cricket boards of Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to play bilateral matches at all age group levels including at the national level, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (AFC) endorses Pakistan’s policy of not mixing sports with politics.

“Our Afghan government does not believe to mix sports with politics and it is our clear policy that we have the authority to invite any team and it is the duty of our government to provide security,” AFC president Shukrullah Atif Mashal said at a press conference, jointly addressed by PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan and chairman executive committee Najam Sethi, after signing a MoUs with the PCB at its headquarters Gaddafi Stadium here on Saturday.

“Sport should not be mixed with politics; especially cricket should be kept away from politics. Both the countries have to look national interest but the sports is sports,” Atif said.

For the last 13 years, the high profile Indo-Pakistan bilateral series could not be held, just because, the BCCI has the stance that its government is not allowing it. Atif’s stance must be a lesson for the BCCI to change its decades’ old stance and to give a chance to cricket to play a positive role to develop the people to people contact.

Atif, while adding his point to a question asked to Najam Sethi that if the government of Pakistan would allow the PCB to go and play in Kabul, a proposed friendly T20 match in July this year, under the current border tension between the two countries, indirectly, Atif in his reply also gave a guideline to the PCB how to respond to the BCCI’s stance of mixing politics with sports.

“If ACB as well as PCB have shown interest to play bilateral, I think Pakistan government should support the cause,” said Atif. “Afghan government always keeps sports away from politic. Yes, we have a national interest and we should keep the national interest in mind. We know tension is on the boarder but as Afghan cricket chairman, it is my duty to ensure and keep the interaction between the two boards going.”

However, PCB’s executive committee chairman Najam Sethi intervened and said that as both the cricket boards have decided to play the bilateral series at the national level, so it is clear that the government of Pakistan had no objections for the team to play away home series against Afghanistan in Sharjah, a neutral venue, and to host them in Pakistan as a return series.

“But as far as playing cricket in Afghanistan is concerned, the PCB will have to get the permission from the government, just because of security factor and not any other factor related to politics or border tension,” said Sethi.

To a question that though the two cricket boards had signed an MoU, it could meet the same fate as the ones signed with BCCI in 2014 to restore the bilateral series, Shaharyar stated that it is unlikely to happen since in BCCI’s case, the fault was not at the PCB end but at India’s end which was not willing to honour it.

“At least our intention should be clear and the PCB still believes not to mix sports with politics,” Shaharyar said.

Meanwhile, Atif appreciated the roles of both Pakistan and India in the development of Afghanistan cricket. To a question that in the past, the AFC tilted its weight in BCCI’s favour despite the fact that PCB had gone to great length to promote Afghan cricket, Atif said relations with India or with any other nation were no different. “We are keeping a balance in relations with all,” he clarified. “India also supported Afghanistan cricket. Our visit to Pakistan does not mean we ignored India or by visiting India does not mean we are ignoring Pakistan,” Atif said.

He further said Pakistan was a friendly, Muslim and neighbouring country of Afghanistan whose great players like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif and Kabir Khan who worked with the Afghan cricket team as coaches and served a lot.

Asked if the AFC had the plan to also offer India to send its national team to play in Kabul, like Pakistan, Atif avoided a direct reply but said it would gladly host India if they want to visit Afghanistan to play cricket.

He added that as many as eight Pakistani players will be featuring in the Afghan League starting in July this year.

Najam Sethi said that Atif had very strong position in the Afghan government and Afghan government is ready to host Pakistan and it was a welcoming sign. He said the two cricket boards had agreed to play two T20 friendly matches — one each in Kabul and in Pakistan. “The Afghan cricketing authorities wanted to host Pakistan for the friendly T20 match before the start of Afghan league,” he disclosed.

Earlier, Shaharyar read out a written statement disclosing the points agreed by the two cricket boards.

“In the meeting both Chairmen reiterated the deep bonds of friendship between the two boards. PCB’s role in the development of Afghan Cricket was recognised and the deep spirit of brotherhood between the two countries was mentioned as the building block for future cooperation.

“The PCB and the ACB have agreed in principle to organise two friendly T20 matches between the two countries with each side touring the other country for the same in the near future.

“To organise a bilateral series between the national teams of the two countries in due course. A preparatory camp for the ACB-U19 team in Karachi followed by a bilateral series between the U-19 teams of the two countries.

Future bilateral series between the emerging and ‘A’ teams of the two boards. Future bilateral series between the U16 teams of the two boards

PCB providing technical support with the training of ACB curators , scorers, umpires, analysts and coaches.

Explore the possibility of matches between the regional teams of the two boards Making available the PCB’s bio-mechanical facility for testing of Afghan Cricketers.

PCB will push for greater interaction of ACB in the Asian Cricket Council and in World Cricket in general and will work on providing a stadium in Pakistan which ACB would use as a home venue.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2017