Australia To Postpone Only Test Match Against Afghanistan Over Women Cricket's Ban

Afghanistan’s only Test match against Australia in November is likely to be postponed as a move to retaliate against the banning of women’s cricket in the country.

Since the Taliban has emerged as the new rulers of Afghanistan, women sports have been jeopardised in the country as the militant organisation is strictly against allowing women to play with due reference to Islamic laws.

Taliban has explicitly denied the Afghanistan women’s cricket team to play the sport. Cricket Australia had earlier said they would be forced to cancel the Test match against Afghanistan men’s team.

If they want to play competitive male sport, they have to rethink what they do with female sport: Dominic Baker

According to ICC rules, a Test-playing nation must have a women’s cricket team and hence Afghanistan men’s team might not be able to continue to play in the longest format.

Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker confirmed that Australia is likely to postpone the Test match scheduled to play against Afghanistan in Hobart at the end of November.

“It’ll be formally postponed indefinitely this week. That will come out in the next couple of days,” Baker told local radio station Triple M.

“It’s not acceptable that they don’t allow the female sport. If they want to play competitive male sport, particularly in the cricket sphere, they have to rethink what they do with female sport.”

We are committed to maintaining and supporting women cricket: Azizullah Fazli

Earlier this month, Afghanistan Cricket Board’s newly appointed chairman Azizullah Fazli said that it was committed to promoting women’s cricket in the country and optimistic the one-off test against Australia would go ahead.

“We officially talked with them, and the issue regarding the test match will be resolved. The new government of Afghanistan is focusing on its priority programmes. They haven’t told us anything regarding women cricket (but) we are committed to maintaining and supporting women cricket,” Fazli had told news agency Reuters. 

Afghanistan men’s cricket team could also be barred from participating in the T20 World Cup by ICC if they play under the flag of the Taliban.

Also Read: Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup Participation Could Be In Danger If They Play Under Taliban’s Flag-Reports