Cricket Australia postpones men’s T20I series against Afghanistan
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the postponement of the men’s T20I series against Afghanistan, scheduled for August this year. The decision comes as a response to the deteriorating human rights situation for women and girls in Afghanistan. The three-match series was set to be hosted by Afghanistan, with matches to be played in the UAE.
CA had previously cancelled a one-off Test match against Afghanistan in November 2021 and postponed an ODI series to March 2023 due to similar concerns regarding human rights. The board stated, “We would continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country.”
In a statement, CA mentioned, “Over the past twelve months CA has continued to consult with the Australian Government on the situation in Afghanistan. The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse.” The decision to postpone the bilateral series reflects CA’s commitment to supporting women’s participation in cricket globally.
This marks the third time CA has declined to play against Afghanistan due to human rights concerns. Despite this, Australia has continued to compete against Afghanistan in ICC-run tournaments, such as the recent men’s ODI World Cup in India. CA plans to work closely with the International Cricket Council and the Afghanistan Cricket Board to explore ways to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future.
