KABUL (SW): The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has expressed optimism about early return to international arena by the flamboyant opening batsman Shahzad Mohammadi facing ban for doping imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In an exclusive interview with Salam Watandar, Bashir Stanikzai, game development manager at the ACB, said that the ICC is set to review the case of Shahzad in November in the light of the investigations conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and arguments in defense of the Afghan cricketer. “The decision would be announced in two to four weeks’ time, and we hope it would be in the interest of Shahzab and his fans”, he hoped.
Next year, Zimbabwe would host qualifying matches for the forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 that would be held in England. The ACB is eyeing the return of Shahzab for these crucial qualifying matches that would commence in the month of March next year.
The hard-hitting opener, however, is certainly going to miss the landmark test match against Zimbabwe and a three-match series against Ireland in December.
Stanikzai said lengthy deliberation by the ACB and London-based Morgan Sports firm to prove Shahzad innocent is the main reason behind delay in judgment in Shahzad’s case.
Azim Malik, physiotherapist for the Afghan cricket team, has said in his statement in this connection that the opening batsman consumed a medicine from an open container for weight loss rather than performance enhancement. The ACB game development manager informed that up to $ 70,000 have been spent on defending the star batsman so far.
As per WADA rules, deliberately doping can lead to a maximum of four-year suspension, but with different circumstances can bring it down to two years. Shahzad has been out of action for the past eight months now.
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