Cricket Australia introduced on Thursday morning that they might not play within the three-match collection, as a result of happen in March, after the Taliban imposed an indefinite ban on college schooling for girls in Afghanistan.
It’s the second time Australia have cancelled a bilateral fixture in opposition to Afghanistan, having pulled the plug on a one-off Check in November 2021, quickly after the Taliban retook energy following the US withdrawal.
Khan is the No1-ranked T20 bowler on the earth and considered one of franchise cricket’s largest attracts. Since 2017, the spinner has commonly featured for the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s flagship home competitors, the Big Bash, although he has already departed this 12 months’s version to play for MI Cape City within the new SA20 league in South Africa.
In a press release on Twitter, Khan, who was final month re-appointed as Afghanistan’s T20 captain, mentioned: “Cricket! The only hope for our country. Keep politics out of it”.
“I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March,” the assertion learn. “I take great pride in representing my country and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision from CA sets us back in that journey.
“If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition.”
In addition to banning ladies from greater schooling, the Taliban have additionally prohibited entry to some sports activities services corresponding to parks and gymnasiums. Afghanistan are the one full ICC member nation to not have a functioning ladies’s staff, regardless of that being among the many key standards for the standing. ICC chief Geoff Allardice has acknowledged that the state of affairs is “a priority” and is because of be mentioned on the physique’s subsequent board assembly in March, with Afghanistan’s males’s staff at present free to participate in ICC occasions.
Earlier, The Afghanistan Cricket Board mentioned it was “extraordinarily dissatisfied and saddened” by the cancellation of the Australia collection.
“Cricket Australia’s choice to withdraw … is coming after session and potential enforcement from the Australian Authorities which is an unlucky try to enter the realm of politics and politicize the game,” the ACB mentioned.
“By prioritizing political pursuits over the ideas 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 … is unfair and sudden and could have a detrimental 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.”
