Article Summary
Australia’s men’s cricket team has withdrawn from a series of upcoming matches against Afghanistan in protest over the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment. The teams were scheduled to play three One Day International (ODI) games in the United Arab Emirates in March, but Cricket Australia decided to cancel the series after extensive consultation with several stakeholders. CA is committed to supporting the growth of women and men’s cricket 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.
What This Means for You
- CA’s decision is a strong stance against the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment, highlighting the importance of gender equality in sports.
- The move may put pressure on other international sports organizations to take similar actions against the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights.
- The cancellation of the ODI series will impact the growth and development of cricket in Afghanistan, and potentially affect the love and passion of the Afghan nation for the game.
- The future of Afghan players in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 competition, the Big Bash League, is uncertain as the ACB is rethinking their participation.
Original Post
Sydney
CNN
—
Australia’s men’s cricket team has withdrawn from a series of upcoming matches against Afghanistan in protest over the ruling Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment, Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement Thursday.
The teams were scheduled to play three One Day International (ODI) games in the United Arab Emirates in March, but CA decided to cancel the series after “extensive consultation” with “several stakeholders including the Australian government,” the statement said.
CA is committed to supporting [and] 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.
In December, the Taliban announced the suspension of university education for all female students. The move followed a decision in March to bar girls from returning to secondary schools, coming after months-long closures that had been in place since the hardline Islamist group took over Afghanistan in August 2021.
Later that month, the Taliban ordered all local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to stop their female employees from coming to work, warning that non-compliance would result in the revocation of their licenses.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) responded to CA’s decision on Thursday, describing it as “pathetic” and “an attempt to enter the realm of politics and politicize the sport.”
“By prioritizing political interests over the principles of fair play and sportsmanship, Cricket Australia is undermining the integrity of the game and damaging the relationship between the two nations,” the statement added.
“The decision to withdraw from playing the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan is unfair and unexpected and will have a negative impact on the development and growth of cricket in Afghanistan, as well as affect[ing] the love and passion of the Afghan nation for the game.”
The ACB said it was considering what action to take on the matter, including the possibility of writing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and “rethinking the participation of Afghan players” in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 competition, the Big Bash League (BBL).
The ACB statement followed comments from prominent Afghan player Rashid Khan.
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<h2>Key Terms</h2>
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<li>Taliban, Women’s Rights, Cricket, Australia, Afghanistan, Sportsmanship</li>
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