Cricket South Africa has confirmed that it will continue to play bilateral series with the Afghanistan national cricket team despite the Taliban’s influence on women. They believe it is not right to have an impact on men’s cricket because of what is happening in Afghanistan.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has had a huge influence on women’s cricket in the country. They have not only banned women from playing sports, but also from participating in most areas of public life. For this, they have also been the subject of much criticism.
This has also led to Cricket Australia refusing to play against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team, citing that women’s rights are equally important. The six-time world champions have cancelled the series twice against the Asian Team due to the Taliban government’s decision.
South Africa is currently taking on Afghanistan in the bilateral series and has received much criticism. Activist organisation Lawyers for Human Rights said that by taking on Afghanistan, South Africa was tacitly supporting a repressive regime and called on the CSA to boycott Afghanistan.
But the CSA made a bold statement amidst all the criticism. While they mentioned that women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and success, they will be playing against the men’s team. Releasing the official statement, they stated:
“CSA remains conscious that gender equality must never come at the expense of one gender over another. We recognise that championing the advancement of one gender must not undermine the rights of the other. The CSA believes there is no justification for subjecting Afghan cricketers, both men and women, to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban.
“We will continue to engage with member countries within the formal structures of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address this issue. The case for gender equality in cricket should never be promoted by imposing punishment on innocent cricketers and administrators for the misdemeanours of a regime that has nothing to lose from such punishment.”
Cricket South Africa mentions that the Afghanistan Cricket Board has taken measures for women’s cricket
South Africa had to deal with something similar in 1970, when they were banned from playing only white players. But they mentioned that:
“The apartheid government continued its atrocious policies despite its athletes being banned from participating in international sport. What really broke the camel’s back were the economic sanctions.”
Cricket South Africa also mentioned that those criticising them should bear in mind that the Afghanistan Cricket Board made provisions for women’s cricket before the Taliban government took power. The statement further read:
“Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket prior to the Taliban’s ban on female participation in sports in August 2021.”
South Africa and Afghanistan are currently locked in a three-match ODI series in the United Arab Emirates. The Proteas lost the first match by six wickets. The second and third ODIs are scheduled to be played on Friday and Sunday.
