Twitter lambastes Cricket Australia over refusal to play Afghanistan

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) reacted angrily towards Cricket Australia's decision to withdraw from scheduled ODIs in March on (Thursday) January 12. The ACB said that it raise their concern to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and accused Australia of "prioritizing political interests over fair play and integrity of the game". 

Earlier on Thursday, Cricket Australia (CA) announced their decision to pull out from the ODI series against Afghanistan scheduled in UAE in March 2023. The CA explained that the reason behind their sudden decision as Taliban's restrictions on women and girls' education in Afghanistan. Notably in 2021, the CA also pulled out of from the scheduled Test against Afghanistan in Hobart over a similar issue.

Apart from ACB, the newly appointed T20I captain Rashid Khan also slameed the CA for their decision. Rashid, the world's no.1 T20I bowler, plays for Adelaide Strikers in Australia's premier T20 franchise cricket league, Big Bash League. He threatened to pull out of BBL and posted a note on his Twitter page with the caption, "Cricket! The only hope for the 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. 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," Rashid wrote in his Twitter post.

Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus @BBL @ACBofficials ♥️ 🇦🇫 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZPpvOBetPJ

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 12, 2023

The nation's star pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, who has played two games for Sydney Sixers this season, pulled out of the ongoing BBL 2023 and asked the community to say no to BBL because of Australia's "childish decision".

Here is how Twitter reacted:

time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA

— Naveen ul haq Murid (@imnaveenulhaq) January 12, 2023

Love that unity coming from Afghanistan cricket team. They are the true face of Afghanistan and not the Taliban. Cricket Australia must really consider it. Cricket and Terrorism are different and should be treated separately.

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) January 12, 2023

@CricketAus @ICC @ACBofficials pic.twitter.com/0rETaPdxc0

— Mohammad Nabi (@MohammadNabi007) January 12, 2023

Really shocked & speechless to know about the decision of CA of cancelling the ODI series against us.politics & sports are completely 2 different things but it’s very sad & frustrating to see sports is getting deprived for politics.

— Ibrahim Zadran (@IZadran18) January 12, 2023

Just read the news of Australia not playing the series against us. We should never mix politics with cricket & We are expecting the world to support Afg in this difficult situation rather then taking away the only one happiness we have. This is shocking & unacceptable act of CA

— Rahmanullah Gurbaz (@RGurbaz_21) January 12, 2023

Strongly condemn the withdrawal by @cricketcomau from the series. Especially when cricket is one of few things to cherish for Afghan people.While Afghan cricketers playing key role in different leagues around the world as a vital part of cricketing family….

— Rahmat Shah (@RahmatShah_08) January 12, 2023

Wow! Cricket Australia is so concerned about women's rights in Afghanistan that they cancel their series against them that was to be played in UAE! Does it make any sense? Maybe come with better excuses!
Btw, what steps have they taken against the alleged racism in stadiums?

— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) January 12, 2023

Did Cricket Australia @CricketAus imposed any restrictions on their cricket team/players bcaz of the war crimes committed by their soldiers in #Afghanistan? If not, their today’s statement makes no sense! It’s just a show off and pure double standards.

via @bbcworldservice pic.twitter.com/J7o3Mti6B1

— Bashir Gharwal غروال (@bashir_gharwall) January 12, 2023

Cricket Australia showing the rest of the world how not to sit idly by and ignore the of Afghan women under the repressive Taliban rule.

Good on them and the Australian Government for not continuing to turn a blind eye or hide behind “ongoing consultations” with the Taliban. pic.twitter.com/7VhrWV773u

— Kalika Mehta (@Journo_K) January 12, 2023

What a pathetic decision by @cricketcomau They should know that cricket is not a playground for politics. Please don’t mix politics with cricket. Cricket is symbol of happiness that brings people and nations together. #CricketAustralia @ACBofficials

— Sharafuddin Ashraf (@sharafashraf82) January 12, 2023

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