Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad today alleged that his country’s cricket board conspired to throw him out of the World Cup squad even though he was fit enough to carry on in the event. Shahzad had aggravated the injury on his left knee during the warm-up clash against Pakistan but returned to play the team’s first two games against Australia and Sri Lanka.

However, the organisers announced ahead of Afghanistan’s New Zealand game on June 8 that he was ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup due to a “knee injury”. “I still don’t know why I was ruled unfit when I was fit enough to play,” Shahzad, 32, told PTI from Kabul. “Some people in the board have conspired against me. Only the manager, doctor and captain knew that I was going to be replaced. Even the coach found out much later. It was heart-breaking,” he added.

“I had finished my training and only after I checked my phone, I found out that I have been ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury. None of the players in the team bus knew about it and just like me, they were in shock ,” said the explosive opener.

Skipper Gulbadin Naib had called Shahzad being ruled out a big loss but said the burly batsman was struggling with his knee for the last two-three weeks. When asked to comment on Shahzad’s claims, ACB CEO Asadullah Khan said the wicketkeeper was unfit.