Afghanistan requests Cricket Australia not to isolate it, avoid 'knee-jerk reactions'
Afghanistan was dealt with a setback after the Taliban barred the country’s women from playing any sport. In reply, Cricket Australia mulled not allowing Afghanistan’s men’s team for the one-off Test in Hobart later this year.
FollowThe Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has become a matter of concern for the nation and other countries. Recently, the Taliban stated that it would be banning any sporting activities for women, as it violates the traditional Islamic dress code.
Many did not welcome the announcement, while Cricket Australia seemed to have been significantly hurt by it. It sent out a statement that reckoned that it was pondering on cancelling Afghanistan’s men’s team’s one-off Test against Australia in Hobart later this year, as Australia gives equal leverage to men and women’s cricket.
On Friday, Hamid Shinwari, CEO of Afghanistan Cricket Board, sent out a statement urging CA to take a ‘considered and balanced’ stance and avoid a ‘knee-jerk reaction’. It must be noted that currently, International Cricket Council’s law states that any men’s international team must have a women’s international team.
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Shinwari said that it found CA’s stance of “shock and immense disappointment”, while he also described it as “sudden and unexpected”, reports PTI. He also clarified that while there is an alternative to it, it would not “change the culture and religious environment” of the country.
He also brought upon the possibility of Afghanistan getting isolated from international cricket if other countries follow in CA’s footsteps. He clarified that the Taliban’scurrent statement on women’s cricket is not surprising and is not that different from what the previous governments had imposed.
Referring to ICC, he pronounced that the ICC is well aware of the country’s environment and has taken a “balanced, diplomatic, sensitive and considerate approach”. It requested CA to consider a balanced ‘cricket diplomacy’, similar to that of ICC.
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