Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has turned down an offer to join the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) as a mentor, choosing to respect Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) policy on the tournament.
According to reports, Akram was approached for a mentorship role but decided against accepting it in line with the board’s stance on the competition. PCB had earlier decided not to issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Pakistani cricketers seeking to take part in the event, and Akram chose to stay away from the league in view of that policy.
Other Pakistan-linked names have, however, found roles in the tournament. Former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been appointed head coach of Team Paktia, which will be captained by Rahmat Shah, while pace legend Waqar Younis has been named the team’s ambassador.
Former fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who holds a UK passport, was signed by the Kandahar Warriors in the platinum category during Tuesday’s star-studded players’ draft.
Amir, who lives in England and acquired British citizenship in May this year, registered for the draft as a UK national. The Warriors picked him with their first selection, ahead of veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.
More than 30 Pakistani cricketers, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim, also registered for the draft. None were selected, amid uncertainty over their participation due to reported diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Media reports had earlier suggested the PCB was unlikely to issue NOCs to its players for the competition.
