Sept 22, 2021: Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers have dismissed Hamid Shinwari, the chief executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, and replaced him with Naseeb Khan in the second major change in the game’s top governing body since the group captured power last month.

The Taliban had earlier this month announced a new government this month, after the quick military take over by the group that resulted in the overthrow of the western backed government. The Taliban attack came as US-led foreign forces were completing evacuations after a 20-year war.

Hamid Shinwari confirmed in a text message to a foreign news agency that he had been asked to leave his post. The ACB announced Khan as Shinwari’s replacement in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

The ACB last month named Azizullah Fazli as its chairman in what was the board’s first major appointment since the Taliban takeover. Fazli had previously served as the chairman between 2018 and 2019.

The Afghan women’s squad was disbanded amid safety concerns a few years after it was formed in 2010 but the ACB revived the team last year and gave contracts to 25 players.

On Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid gave assurance that secondary schools will be opened “as soon as possible”. He said that “a safe learning environment” is needed before older girls could fully return to school.

Cricket was first played in Afghanistan by British troops in the 19th century, but it took root in the 1990s after Afghans who had learnt the game in refugee camps in Pakistan returned home.

The ACB joined the ICC in 2001 as an affiliate member, gaining full membership status in 2017.

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