BIPIN DANI
Afghanistan cricket team will participate in the upcoming T-20 World Cup under the old national flag-banner, it is learnt.
According to highly placed sources in Kabul and the UAE, it has been made clear to the officials of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
Doubts were recently raised about the participation of the team in the World Cup following the Taliban taking over the charge of the nation.
"Afghanistan's old national flag is being displayed in the Expo 2020, a World Expo, currently hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022", one of the sources confirmed from the UAE.
The team is, however, likely to miss the first practice match against South Africa on 18th.
"Only eight Afghanistan players are in the UAE. The rest of the squad members, who were practicing in Qatar, could get late visas and arrive on Wednesday night/Thursday morning".
"As per the standard rule, they need to spend six-day quarantine before being allowed to practice and therefore the match may have to be skipped", the source aware of the development said.
The authorities are in negotiations with the ICC and the Indian cricket board, it is learnt.
Andy Flower, the new batting consultant has already joined the squad in the UAE.
