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Cricket Scotland has all their men's cricket activities with the Afghanistan men's cricket team. In a fresh statement, the Scottish cricket board has made it clear that apart from the events governed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), their men's cricket team will not share the same field with the Afghanistan National Cricket Team.
Why has Cricket Scotland decided to stay away from playing bilateral or non-ICC event matches against the Afghanistan cricket team? It is worth mentioning that the Scottish national cricket board has sanctioned its decision only for its men's cricket team, not for its women's national cricket team.
Scotland will not play against Afghanistan outside ICC events
The cricket board has sanctioned these fresh restrictions to support the women of Afghanistan. In their official media release, the cricket board has stated, the cricket board expressed their concerns over the Taliban government's treatment of women and girls.
As there are concerns over the girls' and women's future under the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, the Scottish board will not proactively schedule bilateral series or participate in tri-series involving Afghanistan Men, as they have informed in their official release. But they will keep obeying the ICC fixtures. If, in any ICC event, Scotland is scheduled to face Afghanistan, they will do so as per the ICC fixtures.
"Cricket Scotland will continue to participate in any fixtures against Afghanistan Men at ICC events which are determined by ICC competition regulations. Participation in these fixtures should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the current Afghan regime or its policies," a portion of the statement reads.
Three national cricket boards expressed concerns over human rights in Afghanistan
They have also noted that there will be no consideration of facing Afghanistan in a bilateral or tri-series arrangement with Afghanistan unless there is a massive upgrade in women's cricket in Afghanistan and in their human rights. The Scottish men's cricket team will not even share the same ground with the Afghans for practice matches as well.
Notably, it is not the first time that a national cricket board has taken a strict stance against the Taliban-led Afghan government. Raising their voice for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also been against playing bilateral matches against the Afghanistan men's national cricket team. The England National Cricket Team faced Afghanistan before in ICC events, but they did not play any bilateral matches with the Afghans in the recent past. Cricket Australia has also suspended bilateral cricket relations with Afghanistan.
Will Cricket Scotland grant NOCs for APL?
But will the Scottish cricket board allow their men's cricketers to feature in the upcoming Afghanistan Premier League? George Munsey was the only Scottish cricketer selected in last week's APL draft. The cricket board stated that it will consider issuing the No Objection Certificate, depending on whether APL gets ICC sanction.
"Cricket Scotland will comply with its obligations as set out in its contracts with its players. If an NOC is issued, participation by that player must not be interpreted as an endorsement by Cricket Scotland of the current Afghan regime or its policies," the statement added.
Read More: Afghanistan Premier League in trouble? ICC approval and ECB concerns put English players in doubt
