Cricket Board accused of covering up sexual abuse by coach

National cricket team players have issued a joint-statement accusing the Cricket Board of Maldives of covering up sexual abuse by head coach Asif Khan against multiple children and young adults.

Asif Khan, 46 – a South African citizen of Pakistani descent – was intercepted by the police and arrested from Velana International Airport on his way to board a plan out of Maldives on Saturday.

According to the police, he is accused of sexually harassing multiple children and young adults.

The women’s and men’s national cricket team players have issued a joint-statement in which they accused the Cricket Board of being aware of the sexual abuse allegations against Asif Khan, and of covering up the real reason for his sudden resignation.

They said that they had credible information regarding the sexual abuse allegations against Asif Khan.

The players, in their statement, condemned the Cricket Board for failure to report the sexual abuse allegations to the authorities, and for directly or indirectly aiding in Asif Khan’s attempt to evade authorities and flee the country.

Stressing that the Cricket Board must be accountable for the detrimental impact on the victims and their families from the Board’s actions, they asked the Cricket Board’s members for their full cooperation to the investigative authorities.

The national cricket team players said they were ready to reaffirm the true principles of cricket and establish a safe environment to young players.

Asif Khan had been serving as head coach of the national cricket team since 2018.