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Minister Makhosini Hlongwane

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AFGHANISTAN’S Interior Minister Wais Barmak has written to Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane giving safety guarantees for 11 Zimbabwe cricketers playing in the war torn country’s Shpageeza Twenty20 Cricket League.

In a letter dated September 15, Barmak expressed appreciation to the Zimbabwean Government for its continuous collaboration in the area of sport.

He informed Hlongwane that the Afghanistan Cricket Board is holding its domestic competition, the Shpageeza Cricket League in Kabul where a number of foreign players, including Zimbabweans are participating.

Prior to the start of the competition, Barmak stated that Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani had given a clear course to put in place high level security, which has so far ensured that the event takes place in a secure environment.

“Unfortunately, a security incident happened in Kabul on Wednesday 13th September within the same district as where the ACB is located. The security arrangement we had in place ensured that the attackers were prevented from getting inside the security cordon that was in place. The particular cricket game was stopped briefly to ensure the safety of all players, match officials, ACB staff and the cricket fans, but it resumed as soon as a security clearance was issued,” wrote Barmak.

He assured Hlongwane of the safety of everybody involved in the Shpageeza Cricket League, stating that the Islamic country’s security departments had increased security to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the tournament.

“I would like to assure you that the safety of everyone, including the Zimbabwean players and match officials involved in the Shpageeza Cricket League, is very important to Afghan National Defence and Security Forces and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

“We have met with your delegation to discuss the security arrangements and we have intensified all our efforts to increase the security measure even further. These steps include extra security where they are staying, police escort and increasing police presence at the sport venue. We understand that your delegation is happy with these arrangements,” Barmak wrote.

Sports and Recreation Commission chairman Edward Siwela issued a statement on Saturday stating that the SRC only clears athletes going to represent Zimbabwe outside the country and not individuals.

“Athletes who travel and play outside the country in their individual capacity are not required by the SRC Act to clear themselves. In such cases, it is the prerogative of the National Sports Association and International Federation to grant authority for them to play,” Siwela said.

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani indicated that they had asked the Afghanistan government to write to the Zimbabwean authorities to give an assurance on the safety of the 11 local players in the war ravaged country. This was after the players ignored an order issued by ZC last Wednesday for them to return home immediately, stating that they were safe in Afghanistan despite the bomb blast.

Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Sikandar Raza, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Elton Chigumbura, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Ryan Burl, Richmond Mutumbami and Tendai Chisoro are the Zimbabwe cricketers in Afghanistan. The Shpageeza Cricket League started on September 11 and ends on Friday.

Mukuhlani said the situation was tricky because some of the cricketers have no contracts with ZC, which means the sport’s governing body has no power to order them to return home. This is despite the fact that it was ZC which issued the players with the No Objection Certificates allowing them to play in Afghanistan. — @Mdawini_29