Cricket Australia has postponed a men’s T20I Afghanistan series after consulting the Australian government. The three-match series was due to take place in March on neutral soil in the United Arab Emirates.
Both teams have not engaged in international cricket outside of ICC events since August 2012 while Afghanistan remains the only International Cricket Council full member nation that does not have a women’s team.
What exactly was the statement when Cricket Australia postponed the Afghanistan Series
Cricket Australia stated on Tuesday that, based on advice from the Australian government, the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is deteriorating.
“Therefore, we have decided to maintain our previous stance and postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan Over the past twelve months CA has continued to consult with the Australian Government on the situation in Afghanistan”.
Cricket Australia’s statement explained. “Cricket Australia remains deeply committed to promoting the participation of women and girls in cricket globally and intends to continue working with the International Cricket Council and the Afghanistan Cricket Board to explore potential measures that could facilitate the return of bilateral matches.”
“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” the CA statement read.
Interesting to Read: Pakistan Cricket: Intensifying Fitness as National Team To Train with Pakistan Army
This is not the first time Cricket Australia has postponed the Afghanistan series
This postponement marks the third instance Cricket Australia has opted not to compete against the Afghan team since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in September 2021, which saw the imposition of restrictions on women’s rights to participate in sports, work, education, and travel.
Previously, Australia cancelled a test match slated for Hobart in November 2021 and a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series scheduled for March last year. The last decision sparked outrage among Afghanistan players including Big Bash star Rashid Khan who threatened not to return to the tournament, a call he later rescinded.
What is the situation in Afghanistan right now?
The Taliban regained control of the Asian nation in mid-2021 and immediately placed restrictions on female participation in sports. They have also barred teenage girls from secondary schools and last month banned women from attending universities, prompting global outrage. More recently, women were told they could no longer work in Afghanistan’s aid sector. Females have also been pushed out of many government jobs.
Also Read:
