The Taliban had recently announced restrictions on the education and employment of women and girls. After this, Cricket Australia has decided that the three-match ODI series between Afghanistan and Australia in UAE in March has been canceled.
The Australia cricket team will not play the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE in March this year. Cricket Australia has decided to withdraw from the series. This is because the Taliban had recently announced restrictions related to the education and employment of women and girls.
The three-match ODI series between Australia and Afghanistan was to be played under the ICC ODI Super League. The effect of Cricket Australia's withdrawal from the series is that Afghanistan will get 30 points from the series. Cricket Australia issued a statement on its official website explaining why it took this decision. CA said it remains committed to supporting the progress of the men's and women's games globally, including in Afghanistan.
CA also said that it will hold talks with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to see if conditions have improved for women and girls in the country. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has thanked the Australian Government for its support in this matter. "CA is committed to supporting the progress of the men's and women's game around the world, which includes Afghanistan," CA said in a statement. The board will continuously interact with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to know what is the improvement in the condition of women and men in the country.
Afghanistan said in response, 'We thank the support of the Australian government in this matter.' ICC CEO Geoff Allardice admitted that the recent developments in Afghanistan are worrying and will be discussed at the next board meeting in March. Allardyce said: 'Our board has been closely monitoring progress since the change of administration. It is a matter of concern that progress is not being made in Afghanistan and our Board will consider this at its next meeting in March. As far as we know, no activity is happening at this time.
Afghanistan is the only ICC Full Member country that does not have a women's team. In the inaugural edition of the Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan is also the only Full Member not to feature a women's team.
