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Afghanistan pacer Aftab Alam suspended for one year

Alam
by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Afghanistan’s Aftab Alam has been handed a one-year suspension from both domestic and international cricket, post an investigation by Afghanistan Cricket Board’s disciplinary committee. 

Alam, found violating ICC’s disciplinary code of conduct during Afghanistan’s World Cup 2019 campaign, will also have his national contract dropped. The suspension came after ACB’s disciplinary committee investigated Alam’s case over the last one week, and submitted its report on his off-field actions during the World Cup.

The 26-year-old pacer was officially replaced midway through the tournament with Sayed Ahmad Shirzad on June 27, with the ICC stating that the change was made under ‘exceptional circumstances’.

Alam

Alam played three games in the 2019 World Cup, before he was removed from the squad

Alam, who played in three of Afghanistan’s nine games in the tournament, allegedly misbehaved with a female during his team’s stay in a Southampton hotel. Additionally, he misused his player accreditation pass to gain access to the hospitality rooms at Old Trafford, during the India-Pakistan league fixture on July 16, and had to be removed by security after refusing to leave.

Alam’s troubles compounded further, when he was absent from an ICC ACU [Anti-Corruption Unit] meeting with the Afghanistan team. He was subsequently suspended for two games by coach Phil Simmons, for failing to turn up at the scheduled meeting. 

In the three matches he played, Alam took four wickets, with best figures of 3-45 against New Zealand at Taunton. Afghanistan lost all their nine league games, and ended at the bottom of the points table.

This was Alam’s second World Cup, having featured in a solitary game during Afghanistan’s maiden campaign in 2015.

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