Afghanistan Cricket Board on Sunday announced its new eligibility and selection criteria for all four national teams – the national side, A-team, emerging team and U19 team.
ACB director Basheer Stanikzai said the policy approved for player selection will be implemented at all levels and players will need to meet the minimum set requirements to be selected for national teams.
According to Stanikzai, in order to progress to a national team, a player would be required to prove his fitness, discipline and performance.
Stanikzai explained that going forward, a player would need to be involved in cricket for 300 days a year for two consecutive years verified by a relevant club, association, provincial team or region.
They would also need to provide their National ID card or Passport as proof of identity.
The players who represent the Under-19 team must prove Afghanistan citizenship or provide a birth certificate.
He also said players would need to have played domestic cricket as part of Shpageeza Cricket League, Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One-Day (List-A) Tournament or Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class (Four-day) Tournament and obtain a minimum of a grade A in either of the two formats.
Stanikzai emphasized the importance of fitness for players and said that players will have to go through a fitness test before selection.
Chief Selector Nawroz Mangal and members of the selection committee Abdul Wali Amin and Ahmad Shah Sulemankhel were also present at the announcement.
Mangal also emphasized the need for fitness, discipline and performance.
He said players who perform well in the emerging team will be considered for selection to the A-team. He also said players who are out of the national team due to injuries or other fitness-related issues would need to play for the A team and earn their place back in the national team once recovered.
Regarding selection for the emerging team, Mangal said only players under 23 years of age, who have performed well at U19 level and in domestic cricket would be eligible for selection.