A displeased Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) asked its Australian counterparts on Wednesday to “not succumb” to government pressures, which the South Asian country believes resulted in the postponement of a bilateral T20 series.
Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday postponed a three-match T20 International home series against Afghanistan’s men’s team for August, citing “worsening” conditions for women and girls in that country.
In a strongly worded letter, the ACB responded to CA’s move, saying, “The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses disappointment over Cricket Australia’s decision to postpone yet another bilateral series against Afghanistan and reiterates its stance on neutral and politics-free cricket around the world.”
“ACB advocates for keeping cricket distinct from political influence, considering the game’s significance in Afghanistan and its connection to the happiness and joy of the Afghan nation.
” CA’s decision to postpone the upcoming series is a continuation of its tough stance toward Afghanistan. CA had canceled a one-off Test against them in Hobart in November 2021 and subsequently postponed a three-match ODI series in the UAE.
The Afghanistan board believes CA is acting on instructions from the Australian government, which was asked: “not to impose its policies on cricket boards and instead focus on supporting the development of cricket across regions”.
“The Australian Cricket Board acknowledges the pressures placed on Cricket Australia by the Australian government and emphasizes the importance of addressing such issues through collaborative efforts between the two cricket boards.
“The ACB’s top management had previously engaged in negotiations with Cricket Australia, proposing alternative solutions rather than publicly announcing withdrawals.
“ACB expresses disappointment over CA’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan for the third time,” the board wrote in its letter.
The three-match T20I series was part of Afghanistan’s FTP (Future Tours Programmes) for the ICC 2023-2027 international calendar, which was approved by the ICC in front of the CA delegation, who “agreed to the fixtures at the time,” according to the ACB.
“This recent withdrawal follows Cricket Australia’s previous actions, which included withdrawing from a one-off Test match against Afghanistan in 2021 and refusing to play Afghanistan in a three-match One-Day International series in March 2023 due to government pressure.
“ACB urges Cricket Australia to respect and understand its position as a Full Member nation and look for alternative solutions rather than succumbing to external pressures and/or political influences.
” To summarize, the disappointed board stated that the ACB remains “committed to negotiating” with the ICC, CA, and other full member countries, as well as “adhering” to the game’s apex body’s principles, to ensure that cricket remains free of political influence and supported by all stakeholders.
Afghanistan was the only Full Member not represented at the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, due to the country’s ban on female cricketers.
