Due to the limitations placed on women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban government, Australia withdrew from their men’s Twenty20 international series against that nation in August. The United Arab Emirates was set to host the three-match series. Official advise, according to Cricket Australia (CA), is that things “are getting worse” for women and girls.
Since the Taliban retook control in 2021, Australia has declined to play Afghanistan three times. Additionally canceled were a three-match men’s one-day series in March 2023 and a one-off Test match scheduled for September 2021. Afghanistan will still be played in competitions by Australia, who defeated them by three wickets during the Cricket World Cup in November of last year.
“After consulting with the Australian Government, CA previously postponed the ODI series against Afghanistan scheduled for March 2023 due to a marked deterioration in women’s and girls’ human rights in Afghanistan,” a statement from CA stated. “CA has maintained its consultation with the Australian Government regarding the situation in Afghanistan during the last 12 months. The advice from the administration is that things are becoming worse in Afghanistan for women and girls.
We have thus stuck to our original stance and decided to put off the bilateral series with Afghanistan. “CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the International Cricket Council and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future.”After retaking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban imposed limitations on women’s ability to work and pursue education.
In Afghanistan, girls are only permitted to go to elementary school. Additionally prohibited from attending school or university classrooms are teenage girls and women. They are not permitted in swimming pools, gyms, or parks. Beauty parlors are closed, and ladies are required to wear clothing that covers their eyes exclusively. If they are going more than 72 km (45 miles), they have to be accompanied by a male relative.
