Melbourne. Cricket Australia said on Thursday it had pulled out of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan as the Taliban’s increasing restrictions on women and girls made it impossible to play. In protest, ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) star player Rashid Khan threatened to boycott the Big Bash League (BBL).
The ACB termed Cricket Australia’s decision as disappointing while Rashid criticized Cricket Australia on social media. Australia were scheduled to play Afghanistan in the UAE in March as part of a three-match ODI series, which is also part of the ICC Super League.
After consultation with all stakeholders including the Australian Government, Cricket Australia has decided not to participate. “Cricket Australia has decided that the men’s ODI series between Australia and Afghanistan will not be played in March 2023,” it said in a statement.
Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus @BBL @ACBofficials pic.twitter.com/ZPpvOBetPJ— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 12, 2023
It further said, “The decision was taken after the Taliban imposed restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment, and their access to parks and gyms. CA is supportive of the development of the game among men and women around the world.”
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has banned women from going to university and working in NGOs. Afghanistan is the only ICC Full Member country without a women’s team and will not play in the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup starting on Saturday. In its defence, the ACB said Cricket Australia’s decision was politically motivated and would be a big blow to the development of the game in the country.
In a statement, the ACB said, “The Afghanistan Cricket Board is deeply saddened and hurt by Cricket Australia’s disappointing statement of pulling out of Afghanistan’s three-match home series in March and we will officially write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on this issue.” ” “The ACB is monitoring the situation closely and if Australia’s decision to pull out of the Afghanistan home series is not reversed, the board will reconsider the participation of Afghanistan players in the BBL, apart from officially writing to the ICC,” it said. doing.”
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Rashid Khan also threatened to withdraw from BBL in Australia. “I am very disappointed to hear that Australia have decided to pull out of playing the series with us in March,” he said. “If playing against Afghanistan makes Australia uncomfortable, I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. So I will be taking a hard look at my future in the tournament.”
ICC CEO Geoff Allardyce said Afghanistan’s lack of commitment to women’s cricket would be discussed at the next ICC Board meeting. He said, “The latest developments in Afghanistan are worrying. We are monitoring the situation. The board will discuss it in the next meeting.”
Australia’s non-participation in the series would cost them 30 competition points, which would go to Afghanistan. Well it doesn’t matter because Australia has already qualified for the ODI World Cup to be held in India this year. (agency)