Chosen as chief selector, ex- skipper Mangal bows out

KABUL (Pajhwok): Former captain Nawroz Mangal has announced retirement from international cricket after being selected as chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) selection committee.

At a crowded news conference in Kabul, Mangal thanked all fans, family members and ACB for supporting him during his career.

ACB chairman Atif Mashal talked about the career, achievements and performances of Mangal and praised him for his role in cricket promotion in the country.

The ACB chairman said he had kept his promise by announcing two key committees of the board. “Mangal will head the selection committee while Wali Ameen and Ahmad Shah Sulemankhel will back him as members.”

Hasti Gul Abid would lead the disciplinary committee while Raees Ahmadzai, Syed Anwar Shah Qureshi and Najibullah Hayatkhel would be its members, the chairman added.

Mashal said: “The selection committee will be independent and responsible to the ACB, media and the nation. The discipline committee will also be independent and have full authority.”

Mangal called selection of the team a huge responsibility, promising the new committee would effectively discharge its responsibilities. Players would be picked on merit, he promised, refusing to accept any pressure.

The disciplinary committee head, Hasti Gul Abid, thanked the top management of the board for his selection. “The committee will work based on rules and regulations of International Cricket Council and Afghanistan Cricket Board.”

Nawroz Mangal will play his last T20I match on January 14 in the UAE against Ireland and that will officially close his international career.

Mangal has played 49 ODIs, scoring 1139 runs, including two hundreds. He has also played 14 first-class and 49 T20 matches for Afghanistan.

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