Afghan player Rashid Khan is considering his future in the Big Bash League after Australia’s men’s team withdrew from their one-day series against Afghanistan, citing Taliban restrictions on the rights of women and girls.
Key points:
- Rashid Khan already left BBL mid-season to play in South Africa
- He said he would be “seriously considering” his future at the Big Bash.
- Sydney Sixers player Naveen-ul-Haq described Cricket Australia’s decision as “childish”
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration last month imposed a ban on women attending universities. Girls have been banned from high school since March, and have also been barred from parks and gyms.
Australia and Afghanistan were scheduled to play three ODIs in the United Arab Emirates this year, but Cricket Australia (CA) scrapped the series after consulting with stakeholders including the Australian government.
“I am truly disappointed to hear that Australia withdrew from the series to play us in March,” Rashid, who plays for the Adelaide Strikers, said in a statement on Twitter.
“I am proud to represent my country and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision by CA sets us back on that journey.”
Rashid played eight times for the Strikers this season but left the BBL this month to compete in South Africa’s new Twenty20 league, where he captains MI Cape Town.
“If playing Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia, then I wouldn’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will seriously consider my future in that competition,” Rashid said.
Australia had been scheduled to play a test match against Afghanistan in November 2021, but it was postponed after the Taliban seized power in August of that year.
Afghan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq pointed to Australia’s earlier withdrawal on Twitter.
“It’s time to say I’m not going to have a big party after this until they stop these childish decisions,” said Naveen, who plays for the Sydney Sixers.
“This is how they did the unique test, now ODIs when a country is going through so much on the off-site [sic] being supportive, you want to take away the only reason for happiness”.
The ICC Future Tours program has Australia touring Afghanistan for three T20 Internationals in August 2024, as well as a historic opening Test match and three more T20s in Australia in August 2026.
Politicization of sport.
With top Afghan cricket stars expressing dismay at the Australian move, many cricket lovers are equally skeptical about the ramifications of scrapping the highly anticipated series in the United Arab Emirates.
Noted cricket writer Gideon Haigh told ABC it would be “incredibly naive” to think that CA could “shame Afghanistan’s leaders into compliance”.
“I don’t think the Taliban will drop any of their restrictions against women’s participation in society because of what a cricket organization has decided,” he said.
Sports have tried to oppose the regimes in the past, as Russian and Belarusian athletes were not allowed to compete under their countries’ flags of late due to the invasion of Ukraine, and South African teams were removed from numerous world competitions during the apartheid era. .
Social media has been in an uproar, with people inside the war-torn country and the vast Afghan diaspora abroad engaging in heated debates over the merits of the Australian move.
And while many have criticized CA for its stance, some Afghan civil society activists in exile have praised the move.
“The fact that more than half of the population is deprived of education, work, social, political and economic activity is only a political question in your opinion? This is a human disaster! And this is the question of the survival of Afghanistan,” Shafiqa Khpalwak, a prominent Afghan activist, tweeted.
Melbourne-based Afghan activist Ezat Ullah said he was disappointed by CA.
“As a community we are extremely saddened by the Australian Cricket Board’s decision,” he said.
“If Australia wants to punish the Taliban, then there are many other good options at its disposal, for example, the West should stop talks with the Taliban, blacklist them again, ban their leaders from traveling.”
Noted Afghan cricket commentator Mohammad Ibrahim Momand told ABC Cricket Australia that the move amounts to “taking away the right to play from Afghans”.
“Afghan cricketers have raised their voices time and again for the rights of women and girls in these dire circumstances,” she said.
“But they have stayed away from politics because their powers and influence are limited. Therefore, such a political move by Australia, which is a major member of the ICC (International Cricket Council), would only alienate and harm these players and the team even more”.
He added that Afghanistan cricket needs support more than ever as it is the only source of joy for the nation.
Afghanistan cricket board calls for review
Within hours of CA’s announcement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) requested a review, saying it was “extremely disappointed and saddened” by the decision to withdraw.
“Cricket Australia’s decision to withdraw… comes after consultation and possible implementation by the Australian government, which is an unfortunate attempt to enter the realm of politics and politicize the sport,” the ACB said.
“By prioritizing political interests over the principles of fair play and sportsmanship, Cricket Australia is undermining the integrity of the game and damaging the relationship between the two nations.
“The decision to withdraw… is unfair and unexpected and will have a negative impact on the development and growth of cricket in Afghanistan and affect the Afghan nation’s love and passion for the game.”
The ACB added that cricket has been an important tool to promote education and social development in the country.
ABC/Reuters
