ACB reacts to CA decision: Keep sports, politics apart

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan has expressed its disappointment over Australia’s decision on postponing another bilateral series.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stressed cricket must be kept away from political influence, given the game’s significance in the country.

Cricket was a source of happiness and joy for the Afghan nation, ACB said, acknowledging the pressure on CA from the Australian government.

In a statement, the board emphasised on addressing issues through collaborative efforts. It urged the Australian government not to impose its policies on cricket boards and instead focus on supporting the development of cricket across regions.

ACB's top management had previously held negotiations with CA and proposed exploring alternative solutions instead of publicly announcing withdrawals.

The Cricket Australia (CA) had postponed a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan scheduled for August due to the issue of women and girls’ rights.

The series was slated to be hosted by Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirate (UAE).

The three-match T20I series had been approved by the ICC in the presence of a CA delegation, which had agreed to the fixtures at the time.

The Australians had previously cancelled a Test that was scheduled to be played in Hobart in November 2021 and a three-match ODI series that was set for March 2023.

The teams have met in international tournaments, with Australia edging Afghanistan in the 50-over World Cup in India on the way to winning the title last year.

kk/mud