Cricket Australia decided earlier on Thursday, after consulting with the Australian government, to cancel the Australian men’s team’s participation in a three-match One-Day International series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates.
The Taliban, who currently rule Afghanistan, recently declared that girls would be barred from attending university. Geoff Allardice, CEO of the Apex Cricket Council, had previously described this development as concerning. This was given as the justification for the ban.
Now, Former England captain Michael Vaughan has come up to the defence of Afghanistan Cricket and questioned if Cricket Australia would do the same in a World Cup game. He also pointed out that the two teams met in the recently concluded 20-20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
“Will the Australians refuse to play Afghanistan in the World Cup this year .. they didn’t in the men’s T20 World Cup a few months ago !?????” tweeted Vaughan.
Here is Michael Vaughan’s tweet
Will the Australians refuse to play Afghanistan in the World Cup this year .. they didn’t in the men’s T20 World Cup a few months ago !?????
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 13, 2023
In the meantime, Rashid Khan, who plays for Adelaide Strikers, has threatened to quit the Big Bash League following Cricket Australia’s decision to withdraw its team from a bilateral ODI series against Afghanistan in March.
“I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March,” Rashid said. “I take great pride in representing my country, and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision from CA sets us back in that journey. If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia, then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition,” Rashid wrote in his tweet.
Rashid appeared in eight games for Strikers this season before moving on to MI Cape Town in the SA20. He wasn’t supposed to play in the BBL again this year due to conflicting commitments. If CA did not reverse its decision, the ACB responded that it would “rethink the participation of Afghan players in the Big Bash League.” However, the ACB’s statement made no mention of the future of women’s cricket in Afghanistan.
