ISLAMABAD: Five Afghan cricketers have been drafted to play in the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League to be held in the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore from February 20 to March 22, Afghan media reported on Tuesday.
About 20 Afghan players applied to play in PSL but only five have been picked, namely current Afghan team vice captain Rashid Khan by the Lahore Qalandars franchise, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi by Karachi Kings, spinner Noor Ahmad Lakanwal and Mujeeb Ur Rehman by Peshawar Zalmi and Qais Ahmad by Quetta Gladiators.
Afghan national team skipper Asghar Stanikzai has also applied but he remains unsold, Pajhwok Afghan News reported, as do Shapoor Zadran, Aftab Alam, Gulbaddin Naib, Rahmatullah Gurbaz and other Afghan players.
In the past, Afghan players have been selected for PSL but because of tense relations between the two neighbors, they were not granted clearance by the Afghan government to play in Pakistan.
Last week, former Afghan Cricket Board director Azizullah Fazli urged the Board in a tweet to “stay away from politics.”
“Afghan cricketers playing in foreign leagues is crucial for Afghanistan because it has economic benefits and a pride for Afghanistan,” he posted.
د افغانستان کرکټ بورډ ادارې ته په کتو سره پکار ده چې د سياست څخه لرې وساتل شي .
د هر افغان کرکټ لوبغاړي لوبيدل په نړيوالو ليګونو کې د افغانستان لپاره ګټور ده ،په نړيوالو ليګونو کې د افغان لوبغاړو لوبيدل هم اقتصادي ګټې لري او هم وطن ته وياړ ده .— Azizullah Fazli (@AzizullahFazli) January 10, 2021
