Cricket Australia cancels men’s T20 against Afghanistan due to concern over women’s rights
A second Australian men’s cricket series against Afghanistan in as many years has been postponed due to the country’s poor record on human rights for women and girls.
Australia had already cancelled a one-day international series to be played in the United Arab Emirates in March 2023 due to “a marked deterioration” in the treatment of females in the country.
An improvement in the situation had been anticipated and it was hoped a three-match T20 series would be given the green light to take place in August this year, also expected to be played on neutral ground in the UAE.
But Cricket Australia on Tuesday said the conditions were getting worse rather than better under Taliban rule in the country and decided, after further consultation with the Australian government, to call off another series.
“The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse,” a statement read. “For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan.
“CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the International Cricket Council and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future.”
It is the third time Australia has refused to play Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control of the Asian nation in September 2021 and immediately imposed restrictions on female participation in sport.
CA also cancelled a one-off Test match in Hobart in November 2021, in addition to the two white-ball series.
The decision to call off last year’s ODI series prompted criticism from the Afghan Cricket Board, which labelled the boycott “pathetic” and “extremely disappointing”, while Afghanistan’s T20 captain, Rashid Khan, threatened to quit playing in the Big Bash League in response. He eventually signed for the Adelaide Strikers, but injury ruled him out of the tournament.
