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The Afghanistan Cricket Board on Sunday (August 20) announced that they would not be renewing Lalchand Rajput’s contract as the head coach of the national team. The former India opener and Mumbai captain, under whom Afghanistan attained Test status in June, confirmed the development to Wisden India, stating he had turned down the board’s proposal of having him work out of Kabul.
Rajput’s fears stemmed from Afghanistan having suffered a series of terrorist attacks in recent months, including a deadly blast in the diplomatic quarter near the German Embassy in Kabul , which claimed at least 90 lives and left more than 400 civilians wounded.
“The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) will not extend Head Coach Lalchand Rajput’s contract which is due to expire at the end of August this year,” read a release from the board. “ACB would like to thank Mr. Rajput for his satisfactory performance during his time as Afghanistan’s Head Coach. ACB is currently in the process of recruiting a new coach for the National Cricket Team.”
Rajput, who replaced Inzamam-ul-Haq as head coach in June last year, saw Afghanistan, along with Ireland, being handed Test status by the International Cricket Council following their impressive run in the Intercontinental Cup.
Afghanistan won six out of 10 limited-overs international series during his tenure, including a successful tour of the Caribbean, where they
beat Windies in an ODI to register their maiden win in the format against a full member nation other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh.
The team also took part in an invitational
match against a Marylebone Cricket Club side which included the likes of Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul at Lord’s in July.
“They (ACB) wanted me to come to Kabul,” Rajput told Wisden India. “This is something I had told them earlier also – I cannot stay there, with the current security threats in the region. We have done so well and even got Test status. I was told that people are now asking why the head coach was not in Kabul, and that I should be there.”
The rising tension and attacks in Kabul led to an indefinite postponement of the fourth edition of Shpageeza, the franchise-based Twenty20 league that was scheduled to be played in Kabul in July.
“I told them that’s out of question, and that they can look for someone else,” added Rajput. “This was actually the only reason to part ways. They have got the National Cricket Academy in Kabul, so I told them it’s better to hire someone, maybe a local coach, who can stay there and look after the local boys. They want someone to look after their domestic players and eventually pick some of the boys (for the national team). I am not willing to risk my life for this, that’s the only reason why I will not be continuing with the role."
The ACB is undergoing a series of reforms, which has led to over 30 employees being sacked or made to switch positions over the past month and more. The developments within the board have even triggered a rebellion of sorts against Atif Mashal, the chairman, and Shafiq Stanikzai, the CEO, with some of the axed and existing members threatening to stop working under the current dispensation.
http://m.wisdenindia.com/full-story.php?category=News&id=265955&
Rajput’s fears stemmed from Afghanistan having suffered a series of terrorist attacks in recent months, including a deadly blast in the diplomatic quarter near the German Embassy in Kabul , which claimed at least 90 lives and left more than 400 civilians wounded.
“The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) will not extend Head Coach Lalchand Rajput’s contract which is due to expire at the end of August this year,” read a release from the board. “ACB would like to thank Mr. Rajput for his satisfactory performance during his time as Afghanistan’s Head Coach. ACB is currently in the process of recruiting a new coach for the National Cricket Team.”
Rajput, who replaced Inzamam-ul-Haq as head coach in June last year, saw Afghanistan, along with Ireland, being handed Test status by the International Cricket Council following their impressive run in the Intercontinental Cup.
Afghanistan won six out of 10 limited-overs international series during his tenure, including a successful tour of the Caribbean, where they
beat Windies in an ODI to register their maiden win in the format against a full member nation other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh.
The team also took part in an invitational
match against a Marylebone Cricket Club side which included the likes of Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul at Lord’s in July.
“They (ACB) wanted me to come to Kabul,” Rajput told Wisden India. “This is something I had told them earlier also – I cannot stay there, with the current security threats in the region. We have done so well and even got Test status. I was told that people are now asking why the head coach was not in Kabul, and that I should be there.”
The rising tension and attacks in Kabul led to an indefinite postponement of the fourth edition of Shpageeza, the franchise-based Twenty20 league that was scheduled to be played in Kabul in July.
“I told them that’s out of question, and that they can look for someone else,” added Rajput. “This was actually the only reason to part ways. They have got the National Cricket Academy in Kabul, so I told them it’s better to hire someone, maybe a local coach, who can stay there and look after the local boys. They want someone to look after their domestic players and eventually pick some of the boys (for the national team). I am not willing to risk my life for this, that’s the only reason why I will not be continuing with the role."
The ACB is undergoing a series of reforms, which has led to over 30 employees being sacked or made to switch positions over the past month and more. The developments within the board have even triggered a rebellion of sorts against Atif Mashal, the chairman, and Shafiq Stanikzai, the CEO, with some of the axed and existing members threatening to stop working under the current dispensation.
http://m.wisdenindia.com/full-story.php?category=News&id=265955&
