CA postpones Afghanistan series citing human rights issues

Cricket Australia (CA) have postponed a T20 series against Afghanistan, scheduled for August 2024, citing deteriorating human rights for women and girls in the country under Taliban rule.

Afghanistan were set to host the 2021 T20 World Cup champions in a three-match T20I series, with the matches expected to be played in the UAE under the ICC's Future Tours Program. This is the third time CA has declined to play the Blue Tigers since the Taliban seized control of the Asian nation in September 2021 and promptly placed restrictions on female participation in sports, a move that CA unanimously denounced.

In November 2021, CA cancelled a one-off Test match which the Australian team was set to play against Afghanistan in Hobart. In early 2023, CA withdrew from a three-match ODI series due to be played in the UAE in March of that year. However, the board kept the door ajar for future tours with the Afghans, provided that the situation for the women in their country improved.

CA today said advice from the Australian government was "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," 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."

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ICC continues to support Afghanistan cricket

International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Geoff Allardice asserted that the cricket governing body will continue supporting Afghanistan cricket 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.

Several formerly-contracted Afghanistan women's cricketers moved to Australia in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility that Ireland's home series against Australia in August and September will be cancelled. Cricket Ireland is struggling with financial and logistical constraints and it is becoming an impediment in their quest to host the six-time ODI World Cup champions.