South African cricket has confirmed that they will continue to play bilateral series with the Afghanistan National Cricket Team despite the Taliban’s influence on women. They believe that what is happening is affecting men’s cricket Afghanistan it’s not right.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has had a major impact on women’s cricket in the country. They banned not only women from sports, but also from most areas of social life. Therefore, they faced many tumors.
This resulted in Cricket Australia refusing to play against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team, stating that women’s rights were equally important. The six-time World Champions canceled the series against the Asian team twice due to the decision of the Taliban government.
South Africa are currently facing a lot of criticism as they lock horns with Afghanistan in a bilateral series. Activist group Lawyers for Human Rights said South Africa was tacitly supporting a repressive regime by playing Afghanistan and called on the CSA to boycott Afghanistan.
But CSA came out with a bold statement amid all the criticism. They will be playing against the men’s team, although they note that women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and success. They released an official statement and said:
“CSA recognizes that gender equality should never come at the expense of one gender over another. We recognize that protecting the advancement of one gender should not infringe on the rights of the other. The CSA believes that there is no reason why Afghan cricketers, both male and female, should be subjected to secondary persecution due to the actions of the Taliban.
“We will continue to engage with member countries within the official structures of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resolve this matter. Gender propaganda in cricket should never be promoted by punishing innocent cricket administrators and players for the wrongdoings of a regime that has nothing to lose from this punishment.”
Cricket South Africa notes that the Afghanistan Cricket Board has taken steps for women’s cricket
South Africa had to face something similar in 1970 when they were banned because they only allowed white players to play. But they noted that:
“The apartheid government continued its brutal policies despite its athletes being banned from international sports. It was the economic sanctions that really broke the camel’s back.”
Cricket South Africa also noted that their critics should look at the Afghanistan Cricket Board taking steps for women’s cricket before the Taliban government took over. The statement further reads:
“Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket before the Taliban ban women from the sport in August 2021.”
South Africa and Afghanistan are currently locked in a 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.
