The Afghanistan Cricket Board has slammed Cricket Australia’s “pathetic” determination to withdraw from March’s three-match ODI collection within the United Arab Emirates, threatening to contact the Worldwide Cricket Council and prohibit Afghan gamers from collaborating within the Large Bash League.
On Thursday afternoon, CA announced its decision to pull out of the white-ball series in response to the Taliban’s remedy of girls, together with rising restrictions on training and employment alternatives.
The Taliban just lately banned teenage ladies from colleges and forbade girls from attending universities in Afghanistan, which sparked international backlash.
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CA consulted related stakeholders and the Australian Authorities earlier than withdrawing from the collection, a call that didn’t resonate properly with Afghanistan’s cricket stars.
Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner Rashid Khan, one of many Large Bash League’s hottest gamers, launched a press release claiming he was “strongly contemplating” his future within the competitors.
“I’m actually dissatisfied to listen to that Australia have pulled out of the collection to play us in March,” Khan tweeted on Thursday night.
“I take nice delight in representing my nation and we’ve got made nice progress on the world stage. This determination from CA units us again in that journey.
“If taking part in vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia then I wouldn’t wish to make anybody uncomfortable with my presence within the BBL.”
Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who represented the Sydney Sixers this summer time, additionally threatened to boycott the BBL following CA’s announcement.
Former Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib posted to Twitter: “I used to be not anticipating a rustic like Australia to encourage the ICC to hurt males’s cricket as properly, so it was an irresponsible determination taken by Cricket Australia … don’t use sports activities like a software for politicians.”
On Thursday night, the ACB launched an strongly-worded assertion in response to CA’s “unfair and sudden” withdrawal, accusing the organisation of “prioritising political pursuits over the rules of honest play and sportsmanship”.
“Cricket Australia’s determination to withdraw from upcoming matches towards Afghanistan is coming after session and potential enforcement from the Australian Authorities which is an unlucky try to enter the realm of politics and politicise the game,” the ACB assertion learn.
“Cricket Australia is undermining the integrity of the sport and damaging the connection between the 2 nations.
“The choice to withdraw from taking part in the upcoming ODI collection towards Afghanistan is unfair and sudden and could have a unfavorable influence on the event and development of cricket in Afghanistan in addition to will have an effect on the love and fervour of the Afghan nation for the sport.”
Nonetheless, the ACB didn’t as soon as point out girls’s rights as soon as within the 445-word assertion, as an alternative bragging they “discourage younger individuals from getting concerned in medication”.
For the reason that Taliban regained management of Afghanistan in August 2021, a lot of Afghanistan’s feminine athletes have reportedly gone into hiding and acquired dying threats.
In the course of the Taliban’s oppressive regime from 1996 to 2001, girls have been fully banned from taking part in any sport or receiving training. Sports activities stadiums have been commonly used for public executions.
Afghanistan stays the one ICC full member nation with no girls’s staff.
Australia was scheduled to play a Take a look at match towards Afghanistan in November 2021, however the historic fixture was ”postponed” following the Taliban invasion.
“CA is dedicated to supporting rising the sport for men and women around the globe, together with in Afghanistan, and can proceed to have interaction with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved situations for girls and ladies within the nation,” CA stated in a press release.
“We thank the Australian Authorities for its help on this matter.”
Former Australia participant Simon O’Donnell on Friday supported CA’s determination because of the ACB’s failure to distance itself from the Taliban regime.
“I would like to contemplate whether or not I’ve any sympathy for Afghanistan cricket,” O’Donnell advised SEN Breakfast.
“When that assertion comes out they usually’re not ready to make a stand towards their authorities and suppose the human rights atrocities are nice and that they don’t must make a point out of them – I discover it extraordinary.
“They’re accepting who their regime is, the remainder of the world isn’t accepting of that regime.”
Australia is scheduled to face Afghanistan in a three-match T20 collection at a impartial venue in August 2024 earlier than the Asian nation excursions Australia in August 2026 for 3 T20Is and a Take a look at match.
Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Full Assertion
Afghanistan Cricket Board is extraordinarily dissatisfied and saddened by the pathetic assertion of Cricket Australia to withdraw from Afghanistan’s residence three-match ODI collection in March and can formally write to the Worldwide Cricket Council in regards to the problem.
Cricket Australia’s determination to withdraw from upcoming matches towards Afghanistan is coming after session and potential enforcement from the Australian Authorities which is an unlucky try to enter the realm of politics and politicise the game.
By prioritising political pursuits over the rules of honest play and sportsmanship, Cricket Australia is undermining the integrity of the sport and damaging the connection between the 2 nations.
The choice to withdraw from taking part in the upcoming ODI collection towards Afghanistan is unfair and sudden and could have a unfavorable influence on the event and development of cricket in Afghanistan in addition to will have an effect on the love and fervour of the Afghan nation for the sport.
The latest determination by Cricket Australia to withdraw from upcoming matches towards Afghanistan has induced a substantial amount of concern inside the Afghan cricket neighborhood. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is carefully monitoring the scenario and is contemplating taking motion, together with formally writing to ICC and rethinking the participation of Afghan gamers within the Large Bash League (BBL), if the choice to withdraw from Afghanistan’s residence collection isn’t overturned.
Cricket has performed a major function in selling unity and nationwide delight in Afghanistan. After years of warfare and battle, cricket has helped to convey individuals collectively and supply a way of normalcy to the nation. It has additionally been an vital supply of hope and inspiration for all Afghans, significantly younger individuals. As well as, Cricket has additionally been an vital software for selling training and social improvement within the nation.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has been working to advertise cricket in colleges and universities, and it has additionally been utilizing the game to advertise wholesome life and discourage younger individuals from getting concerned in medication and crime. Cricket has been an vital software for selling peace, unity, and improvement in Afghanistan, and it’ll proceed to be a supply of inspiration and hope for the individuals of the nation within the years to return.
Afghanistan’s three-match ODI collection towards Australia in March is taken into account to be Afghanistan’s sixth collection within the ICC Cricket World Cup’s Tremendous League, which is about to be hosted by Afghanistan in UAE and the ACB has already settled all of the required logistical preparations.
Afghanistan Cricket Board has at all times been responsive and expressed its willingness to work along with Cricket Australia and different member boards together with stakeholders; to discover a answer that helps the event of the sport in Afghanistan.
