“I texted our Chairman Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal of the ACB regarding some issues which I was not very happy with, and stated that if they don’t let me work without interfering I will rather leave the job with honour and dignity,” said Kabir Khan.
Kabir was then told to leave two days after sending the message. “It was not an official resignation but two days later I got a letter from our CEO Hamid Shenwari that my resignation has been accepted and I replied saying okay.”
According to Afgcric sources this action was planned long ahead, Hamid Shinwari and other ACB members held a meeting just at the end of WCL1 to get rid of Kabir Khan, At that time the Chairman Dr.Omar Zakhilwal didn't approve their plans.
However, Kabir Khan says the interferences from the board occurred during the recently completed tour of Scotland. “During the Intercontinental Cup they at the office were not happy that we did not enforce the follow-on against the Scottish team when Rashid Latif [the batting coach], the captain and I decided to bat for a bit of time and we won the game.”
The tension apparently increased following the second ODI, which Afghanistan lost. “In the last ODI the issue of why we batted first [was challenged]. If they in the office know so much about cricket then there is no point in us doing a job and getting paid. I cannot call Kabul after every toss and ask my CEO what to do,” Kabir said. These incidents are not the first time Kabir believed the board was getting in the way of his job. “When I wanted to add young boys and make a future team, the selection committee was giving me boys in their thirties. I was not involved in the selection meetings which I should [and] boys were dropped for no reasons.”
Kabir put the blame on the ACB chairman, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, for not giving a proper explanation as to what has happened. ”The chairman should have at least asked me why I wrote the text, before discussing and deciding with the person who I was not feeling comfortable with. He just had a meeting with CEO and listened to his side of story.”
Unfortunately, Kabir doesn’t see himself returning to coach Afghanistan. “First of all I will rather find another job as things will not be the same, but if I do then it will totally on my terms and simple ones – I will need full authority of decisions and say in selections. The board can ask me questions or sack me after the tournament but during the tour no interference in cricket matters.”
Kabir maintained that his priority was building the Afghanistan team. "It's not about me - it is about the Afghan team and I will never want them to suffer - I cannot see people ruining the hard work we have done for the last few years just for their personal reasons. I enjoyed every single moment of my job and the respect that I got through coaching the Afghan team," he said. Afghanistan fans will never forget the hard-work Kabir Khan has done as coach.
During his time as coach Afghanistan have gained ODI status, played in the World T20, totally outplayed all other teams in ACC tournaments and massively improved their all-round game. His departure now raises questions about whether batting coach Rashid Latif, who is very close to Kabir, will stay on in his job. "I came to the ACB on recommendation of Kabir Khan, I am not sure whether I will continue to collaborate with the ACB if Kabir no longer is a part of it."
Afghanistan fans have also been shocked by the decisions of ACB. "This is to unfortunate to see that someone who took our team out of ashes is today being forced to leave the squad. Shinwary SHAME ON YOU" said Ahmad Safi on our facebook page.
We at Afgcric are encouraging all the fans to submit their message for Kabir bellow this article, which we'll send to him.
