Cricket Australia Postpones T20I Series Against Afghanistan

Cricket Australia (CA) has postponed the three-match men’s T20I series against Afghanistan scheduled for August this year. The Australian cricket board had previously postponed the ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled for March 2023. The move was made after a marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls in the latter’s country.

“We would Continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” Cricket Australia had said in a statement.

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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. For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan.

CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the International Cricket Council and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future.

CA on Tuesday said the Australian government has advised that the ‘conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse’.

“For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan,” a CA statement read.

“CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the International Cricket Council and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future,” it added.

Afghanistan remain the only ICC full-member nation without a women’s team. Meanwhile, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said the ICC would continue to support Afghanistan as a full member.

“We have spoken with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and their position is they have to operate within the laws of the country and the rules as set by the government, and really the question for the ICC Board is ‘do we support our member in their ability to promote cricket within the rules set by the government of the country?’, and the view is yes,” Allardice told BBC.