Afghanistan Cricket Board sacks CEO Lutfullah Stanikzai

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has sacked its Chief Executive officer (CEO) Lutfullah Stanikzai, on the grounds of ‘unsatisfactory performance’ and ‘misbehaviour with the managers’.

On Monday, in a letter issued by ACB Chief Farhan Yousefzai, it was mentioned that the board has relinquished CEO Lutfullah Stanikzai from his post, 2 years before the expiration of his contract, stating mismanagement and misconduct. Stanikzai, who was promoted last year as the CEO of the board has been asked to handover the entire documents and equipment to the Board by 29th July.

“Farhan Yousefzai, the Chairman of the ACB taking serious notice of the misconducts terminated Stanikzai of the CEO position and advised him to handover the entire documents to the board till July 29, 2020,” the ACB official was quoted as saying.

The ACB stated that the position of the CEO will be announced through an open competition and a suitable candidate will be selected considering the principles and policies of the HR of the Board.

Stanikzai who had joined the ACB as its media in-charge and gradually rose through the ranks has not commented anything on this yet. In the board release, it was mentioned that he was warned several times before on his misconduct owing to the complaints received from the various quarters during his tenure. Stanikzai was appointed as the CEO of the board in 2019.

Rumour has it that Inamullah Shirzad could replace Stanikzai, although there is no official statement has from the Afghanistan Cricket Board on this yet.

The ACB also dismissed the contract of its former domestic manager Hasti Gul Abed after he was convicted of falsification of documents and embezzlement during the 2018 Ghazi Amanullah Khan List-A tournament. Abed had previously served at various posts including ACB’s domestic cricket manager for an extended period. Later, he confessed and accepted the allegations levied against him.