South Africa to end bilateral ties with Afghanistan after Australia? CSA reveals

Cricket South Africa has confirmed that they will continue playing bilateral series with the Afghanistan National Cricket Team despite the influence of the Taliban on the women. They believe that making an impact on men's cricket because of what is happening in Afghanistan isn't right.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has had a massive influence on women's cricket in the country. Not only have they banned women from playing sports but from most areas of public life. Because of this, they have faced a lot of skewering as well.

This also has resulted in Cricket Australia denying to play against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team, mentioning that women's rights are equally important. The six-time World Champions canceled the series twice against the Asian Team due to the decision of the Taliban government.

With South Africa currently locking horns with Afghanistan in the bilateral series, they have faced a lot of criticism. Activist organization Lawyers for Human Rights said that by playing Afghanistan, South Africa was tacitly endorsing a repressive regime and called for CSA to boycott Afghanistan.

But CSA came up with a bold statement amid all the criticism. Although they mentioned that women's cricket deserves equal recognition and success, they will be playing against the men's team. Releasing the official statement, they stated:

"CSA remains mindful that gender equity should never come at the expense of one gender over another. We recognise that advocating for the advancement of one gender should not undermine the rights of the other. CSA believes there is no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players - both male and female - to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban.

"We will continue to engage with member countries within the formal structures of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address this matter. Gender advocacy in cricket should never be advanced by meting out punishment on innocent cricket administrators and players for the misdemeanours of a regime that stands to lose nothing from that punishment."

Cricket South Africa mentions that the Afghanistan Cricket Board took steps for women's cricket

South Africa had to face something similar in 1970 when they got banned as they only allowed white players to play. But they mentioned that:

"The apartheid government continued with its atrocious policies despite their athletes being banned from international sports. What truly broke the camel's back were economic sanctions."

Cricket South Africa also mentioned that those who are criticizing them should look at that the Afghanistan Cricket Board took steps for women's cricket before the Taliban government took charge. The statement further read:

"Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women's cricket before the Taliban's ban on female participation in sports in August 2021."

South Africa and Afghanistan are currently locking horns with each other in the three-match ODI series in the UAE. The Proteas lost the first game by six wickets. The second and third ODIs are scheduled to be played on Friday and Sunday.