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Australia cancelled the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, which was due to be played in late March, citing the Taliban's recent announcement regarding restrictions on women's and girls' education and employment which left the cricketing world buzzing. Australia were supposed to face the minnows in a three-match ODI series as a part of the ICC Super League in UAE in March.
Meanwhile, livid by the decision Afghanistan's star pacer Naveen-Ul-Haq in retaliation to Australia's snub, has pulled out of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) season and tore into Cricket Australia (CA) by terming the decision ‘childish’.
Naveen was representing Sydney Sixers in the BBL and also snared couple of wickets in as many games for the Sixers.
"Time to say won't be participating in the 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 of being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA," Naveen posted on Twitter.
Sharing their decision in an official press release, the Cricket Australia said that they were 'unable to proceed' with the matches due to the Taliban's growing restrictions on women and girls. "Cricket Australia has decided that it is unable to proceed at this time with the upcoming ICC Super League three-match Men’s ODI series between Australia and Afghanistan scheduled for the UAE in March 2023," the statement read.
"This decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms.
“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” the statement added.
Women in Afghanistan are fighting a battle for their rights. They are the ICC full member nation without a women‘s team, and won’t have a team at the inaugural Women’s U19 T20 World Cup starting on Saturday. Since seizing back control of the war-torn country in August 2021, the Taliban have steadily restricted women's rights — despite promising their rule this time would be softer than the regime seen in the 1990s.
In December, women were banned from attending university and working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs). By withdrawing from the fixture, Australia will forfeit 30 competition points which will be awarded to Afghanistan. However, the points will be of little importance as Australia have already qualified for the ODI World Cup later this year in India.
