In a major development, Taliban on Thursday (August 19) reportedly touched down the headquarters of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in Kabul, days after capturing the city.
The new rulers of Kabul were accompanied by former Afghanistan cricketer Abdullah Mazari, who has represented the country in two ODIs.
In a picture doing rounds on social media, the heavily-armed Taliban fighters can be seen occupying the conference hall of ACB headquarters.
The latest development has come days after ACB CEO Hamid Shinwari stated that cricket will not suffer in the war-ravaged country as the Taliban loves and supports the game.
Shinwari had also said that Afghan cricketers and their families are safe amid the ongoing political turmoil in the South Asian country.
"Taliban loves cricket. They have supported us since the beginning. They did not interfere in our activities," Shinwari was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"I don't see any interference and expect support so that our cricket can move forward. We have got an active chairman, I remain CEO until further notice," he added.
Following the turn of events, uncertainty is looming large around the future of Afghanistan cricket and its players. Leading names such as Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi are due to feature in the remainder of IPL 2021 and the subsequent T20 World Cup.
Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are currently showcasing their skills in The Hundred tournament in UK.
