The Afghanistan Cricket Board has slammed Cricket Australia’s “pathetic” determination to withdraw from March’s three-match ODI sequence within the United Arab Emirates, threatening to contact the Worldwide Cricket Council and prohibit Afghan gamers from collaborating within the Huge Bash League.
On Thursday afternoon, CA introduced its determination to drag out of the white-ball sequence in response to the Taliban’s therapy of ladies, together with rising restrictions on schooling and employment alternatives.
The Taliban lately banned teenage women from faculties and forbade ladies from attending universities in Afghanistan, which sparked world backlash.
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CA consulted related stakeholders and the Australian Authorities earlier than withdrawing from the sequence, a call that didn’t resonate effectively with Afghanistan’s cricket stars.
Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner Rashid Khan, one of many Huge Bash Leauge’s hottest gamers, launched an announcement claiming he was “strongly contemplating” his future within the competitors.
“I’m actually upset to listen to that Australia have pulled out of the sequence to play us in March,” Khan tweeted on Thursday night.
“I take nice delight in representing my nation and we’ve 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 need to make anybody uncomfortable with my presence within the BBL.”
Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who represented the Sydney Sixers this summer season, 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 effectively, 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 ideas of truthful 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 sequence towards Afghanistan is unfair and sudden and may have a destructive affect 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 ladies’s rights as soon as within the 445-word assertion, as an alternative bragging they “discourage younger individuals from getting concerned in medication”.
Because the Taliban regained management of Afghanistan in August 2021, a lot of Afghanistan’s feminine athletes have reportedly gone into hiding and obtained demise threats.
In the course of the Taliban’s oppressive regime from 1996 to 2001, ladies have been utterly banned from taking part in any sport or receiving schooling. Sports activities stadiums have been repeatedly used for public executions.
Afghanistan stays the one ICC full member nation and not using a ladies’s group.
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 interact with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved situations for ladies and women within the nation,” CA mentioned in an announcement.
“We thank the Australian Authorities for its help on this matter.”
Australia is scheduled to face Afghanistan in a three-match T20 sequence 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 upset and saddened by the pathetic assertion of Cricket Australia to withdraw from Afghanistan’s dwelling three-match ODI sequence 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 ideas of truthful 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 sequence towards Afghanistan is unfair and sudden and may have a destructive affect 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 current determination by Cricket Australia to withdraw from upcoming matches towards Afghanistan has induced quite a lot of concern inside the Afghan cricket group. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is intently monitoring the scenario and is contemplating taking motion, together with formally writing to ICC and rethinking the participation of Afghan gamers within the Huge Bash League (BBL), if the choice to withdraw from Afghanistan’s dwelling sequence is just not overturned.
Cricket has performed a big function in selling unity and nationwide delight in Afghanistan. After years of conflict and battle, cricket has helped to convey individuals collectively and supply a way of normalcy to the nation. It has additionally been an essential supply of hope and inspiration for all Afghans, significantly younger individuals. As well as, Cricket has additionally been an essential software for selling schooling and social improvement within the nation.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has been working to advertise cricket in faculties 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 essential 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 sequence towards Australia in March is taken into account to be Afghanistan’s sixth sequence 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 all the time 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.
Initially printed as Afghanistan Cricket Board slams Cricket Australia’s ‘pathetic’ determination to withdraw from ODI sequence
