Australia Pull Out Of Afghanistan Series Protesting Taliban Crackdown On Women’s Rights

Canberra: Cricket Australia on Thursday said that it would not participate in a scheduled one-day series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates protesting Taliban efforts to severely curtail women’s rights.

Following a tour of India, the men’s squad was scheduled to play three games against their Afghan counterparts as part of the ICC Super League in March. However, Cricket Australia said that it will not go further after discussions with interested parties, including the Australian government.

Cricket Australia is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country. pic.twitter.com/cgQ2p21X2Q

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 12, 2023

“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,” it said in a statement.

“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan.

“(We) will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” it added while thanking Canberra for its support.

Australia will give up 30 competition points that count toward World Cup qualification for the series. However, they have already qualified automatically for the 50-over competition in India in October.

Midway through 2021, the Taliban took back power in the Asian country, and they quickly imposed limitations on female athletes.

Amid widespread anger, Islamists also forbade teenage girls from attending secondary schools and last month forbade women from enrolling in universities.

Women were recently barred from working in the aid industry in Afghanistan.

In addition, women have been forced out of various government positions, forbidden from travelling alone, and told to dress modestly outside the home, preferably with a burqa.