CA made the decision following consultation with the Australian government citing Taliban’s “further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education”
Cricket Australia has withdrawn their men’s team from a scheduled three-match ODI series against Afghanistan to be played in the UAE in March following consultation with the Australian government.
Australia were scheduled to play Afghanistan as part of the ICC Super League following the tour of India. But CA released a statement on Thursday stating that it had withdrawn from the series following a recent announcement from the Taliban that it was banning university education for girls, which ICC CEO Geoff Allardice described as concerning.
“Following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Australian Government, 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 CA statement said.
“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 the growth of the game for women and men around the world, including Afghanistan, and in anticipation of better conditions for Afghan women and girls, the Afghan Cricket Board continue to cooperate with
“We appreciate the support of the Australian Government in this matter.”
It is the second time in two years CA have canceled their bilateral match against Afghanistan due to the Taliban government’s women policy after a one-off test scheduled for November 2021 in Hobart was postponed. .
Australia faced Afghanistan in her last T20 World Cup in Adelaide. The two sides have faced each other four times in international cricket, but only once in a bilateral match in 2012, not in a Test match, and the other three matches at the World Cup.
Australia will face Afghanistan two more times in the next Future Tour cycle. In August 2024 she has three of her T20Is scheduled at neutral venues and Afghanistan is due to tour Australia in August 2026 to test and perform her three of her T20Is.