Cricket Australia reiterates bilateral cricket with Afghanistan ‘not possible’ until ‘progress’ in women’s cricket

Cricket Australia insists that while they have maintained a “close relationship and regular dialogue” with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), a bilateral series between the two nations is unlikely to happen anytime soon until there’s “progress” with regards to the Taliban regime’s stance towards women cricketers.

The Taliban has banned women from playing sports since it returned to power in 2021 in the south Asian nation following the withdrawal of US forces, which has led to cricketing powerhouse Australia backtracking from its bilateral commitments with Afghanistan ever since.

“We maintain a close relationship and regular dialogue with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and want to see cricket thrive worldwide for both men and women.

“We hope for a level of progress, and continue to discuss and maintain contact with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, aiming to resume bilateral cricket against Afghanistan at some point in the future,” CA Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Australia have thrice pulled out of a bilateral series against Afghanistan — at home or at the UAE, where the Afghans play their home fixtures with the security situation back home not conducive for international cricket.

On Monday, 17 Afghan women players who had been contracted by the ACB before the Taliban takeover in 2021,
had written to the ICC
for a formation of a refugee team based in Australia, making it clear they would not be playing under the ACB banner or be called the Afghanistan national women’s team.

The situation between the two nations is similar to that between India and Pakistan, who haven’t played a bilateral series for more than a decade now but continue to lock horns in ICC events.

The most recent meeting between Afghanistan and Australia was at St Vincent during the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup that concluded on Saturday.
The Afghans stunned the Mitchell Marsh-led Australian team
by 21 runs to not only help knock the 2021 champions out of the tournament but also make history by qualifying for a World Cup semi-final for the first time ever.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan had earlier said the situation with Australia is something that isn’t in their control and hoped for a “solution”.

“Something which isn’t under the control, we can’t do anything about it. We wish we could do something.

“If there was a solution for it, we’d have been happy. But I don’t know what’s the solution for it. I don’t know much about political things, and I don’t even like it. If we play in a World Cup, why don’t we play in a bilateral series?” said the star leg-spinner.