Mashal vows accountability of ACB officials

KABUL Cricket Board (ACB) chief says a financial audit has been launched and the outcome will be shared with the nation.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Atif Mashal said he was investigating the board’s administrative and management issues since his takeover as ACB chairman.

Individuals who served the cricket regulatory body efficiently would be appreciated, he promised. However, he hastened to add those found guilty of fund embezzlement and corruption would be held accountable.

Mashal explained he was currently focused on improvements in blind spots in a bid to find a solution to problems that did not receive enough attention in the past. His main objective is to ensure the administration performs satisfactorily.

Until recently, the board did not have a proper charter or composition. No strategy had been put in place to streamline ACB affairs, he said, adding that certain laws and strategies were on the cards. They will be approved at an ACB meeting in near future.

Former officials of the board had spent funds unnecessarily on foreign junkets and stay, causing ACB heavy financial losses, the chairman alleged. He called the financial losses a tragedy.

Some cricket academies and ground had been constructed in the country but their maintenance had received no attention, Mashal regretted. “Cricket grounds in Paktia, Khost, Kunar and Laghman are not up to standards. The Paktia playground in particular is a big disaster.”

Similarly, the Khost ground lacks capacity for even 10,000 people. Many people had to wait outside the ground during the inaugural ceremony a few months back, he recalled.

In the past, the chairman continued, the board’s administrative branches did not have work plans. But now all departments have been asked to come up with proper strategies and plans.

About $3 million could not be received from ACB’s major sponsor — the Alokozay Group of Companies (AGC) — over the past two years because of the previous administration’s negligence.

In line with a presidential request, the AGC had promised the board $1million in extra assistance, the chairman explained, lamenting that amount had not been received either.

Conflicting statement about the ACB budget emanated from the previous administration, he said. Some months back, they said they had $8million in budget, but now they claiming having $17million.

“ACB doesn’t have that much budget and there is no sign of this money. They should prove this budget. In case they actually have this much money, the government should ask about it.”

According to him, unnecessary appointments have been made to ACB. Even people who were not part of the organisation received salaries, he alleged. Some money has been unaccounted for but no one is ready to accept responsibility, he added.

The ACB’s chief went on to say that former officials treated some players unfairly as there was no proof of Shahpoor’s exclusion from the squad. “Despite the lifting of ban on Shafaq, he isn’t allowed to play.”

He acknowledged meddling in provincial affairs, as some provincial officials had turned into mafia with the abetment of the authorities concerned.

In Kabul, where cricket is more popular than other provinces, there are not five clubs, according to the ACB head, who regretted the situation at the provincial level was even worse.

Efforts were ongoing to make the board self-sufficient, bring about administrative reforms and construct five stadiums in different parts of the country to international standards. About 15 other playgrounds will also be set up.

Unparalleled in the region and equipped with modern facilities, a covered cricket academy to global standards had been established in the country, he claimed

Phil Simmons, a renowned foreign coach, had been hired for the national team, he said, adding efforts were being made to appoint a similar trainer for the under-19 squad as well.

nh/sns /mud