The repatriation of Afghans residing illegally in Pakistan continues, including those youths who came to Peshawar with the dream of going far in the field of cricket but now cricketer have been forced to return.
According to the statistics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, more than 140 thousand people have left the country so far. Among these immigrants are under-trained cricket players who were illegally staying here and receiving cricket training.
Majority of Afghan players under training at Peshawar Islamia Cricket Academy and Gymkhana are returning to their homeland.
Ali Hoti, the coach of Islamia Cricket Academy, told Urdu News that ‘so far, more than 30 Afghan players who came to us to play have returned.’
Every year new players from Afghanistan join the academy for practice but this year their number has decreased. He said that 100 Afghan players are currently playing in different clubs. Maybe even more players will return to their homeland for fear of being deported.
According to Ali Hoti, Islamia Cricket Academy has always been a pioneer in promoting new talent. Most of the players of Afghanistan have been associated with this academy.
Afghan player Asif Khan (pseudonym), who has been training at Peshawar’s Gymkhana Cricket Club for two years, is also preparing to return home.
He told Urdu News that he wants to be a part of his national team. With the same aim, I joined the cricket academy in Peshawar, but now I have to return home with my family.
Mohammad Asif is worried that his dream of becoming a successful cricketer may not be fulfilled because “Afghanistan doesn’t have a cricket academy or they don’t have that quality.”
He further said that most of the players of the Afghan team have learned the game in Peshawar, where they get an opportunity to learn a lot under the supervision of professional coaches. Most of the Afghan players who played cricket in Peshawar have returned to Afghanistan.
Professional Afghan players have visas: According to the former physio coach of the Afghan cricket team, Azim Malik, Afghan players are still playing for different clubs in Peshawar, most of whom have visas.
He said that the professional players have documents, they are residing here legally, due to which they have no fear of being deported.
According to Azim Malik, all the players of Afghanistan’s national team have joined their team by playing in the grounds of Peshawar. Apart from ICMS and Shama Cricket Academy, many players from Afghanistan have played in various clubs.
He said that ‘Nabi, Rashid, Gulbadin, Samiullah Shinwari, Raees, Shahpur, Hamid Hasan and other players have also played in Gymkhana Cricket Academy and Islamia Cricket Academy.’
Azim Malik, the former physio of the Afghan team, said that there is talent among the new players of Afghanistan, but they prefer to come to Peshawar due to the lack of a cricket academy in their country.
