Cricket Australia Cancels Series Against Afghanistan Due to Concerns Regarding Treatment of Women
The ongoing ban on women’s rights in Afghanistan has once again led to the Australian cricket team withdrawing from a scheduled bilateral T20 series against the hosts in August, causing it to raise concerns over the human rights of women and girls in the country.
The series, which was supposed to take place in neutral territory in the United Arab Emirates, was officially postponed due to Cricket Australia’s objections to the actions of the Taliban-controlled country, with recent advice from the Australian government indicating worsening conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan. This is not the first time the series has been postponed, as previous cancellations have occurred over similar concerns.
This decision has once again sparked controversy, with the Afghan board criticizing the ongoing ban and accusing Australia of putting bureaucracy ahead of sport while damaging political relations. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) urges the Australian government to focus on supporting cricket development across regions instead of imposing policies on cricket boards.
