Cricket Australia cancel Afghanistan series due to ‘deteriorating’ human rights under Taliban rule
The sides were due to meet in August.
Cricket Australia have cancelled their men’s T20 series against Afghanistan due to ‘deteriorating human rights for women and girls’ in the country under Taliban rule.
Australia were due to face Afghanistan in a three-match series in the UAE in August but have chosen not to compete against the country for the third time since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Despite this stance, Australia has continued to play against Afghanistan at ICC tournaments, beating them by three wickets on the way to winning the 50-over World Cup in India last year.
Before the World Cup group game against Afghanistan in November, Cricket Australia said there was a ‘distinction between playing bilateral series against Afghanistan which falls under CA control as compared to playing in a World Cup tournament which is an ICC event and subject to their regulations.’
In a new statement, they say government advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are ‘getting worse’, hence the decision to postpone this summer’s series.
‘For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan,’ the statement read.
‘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.’
Afghanistan remain the only ICC full member nation without a women’s team but restrictions on women and girls in the country are not reserved for sport.
The Taliban have banned girls from attending school beyond primary and they are not allowed in parks, gyms and pools.
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