SA Sport Minister Urged South Africa Cricket Board To Boycott Afghanistan Match
South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has joined the increasing criticism regarding Afghanistan’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, likening the treatment of women under the Taliban regime to Apartheid and stating that it would be “hypocritical and immoral to ignore” the issue.
McKenzie’s comments come as South Africa is set to play against Afghanistan in their opening match of the tournament in Karachi on February 21, and follow similar political calls directed at England, another Group B competitor. Recently, a coalition of 160 British lawmakers urged the ECB to withdraw from their match against Afghanistan scheduled for February 26 in Lahore.
“If it were up to me, it definitely wouldn’t take place,” McKenzie remarked in a statement issued by South Africa’s Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture. “As someone from a race that was denied equal access to sports during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to turn a blind eye today while the same injustice is inflicted on women globally.”
His statement follows a letter from Peter Hain, the prominent anti-apartheid activist and former UK government minister, who reached out to Cricket South Africa to express his concerns regarding the prohibition of women’s and girls’ cricket in Afghanistan, which has effectively been imposed since the Taliban regained control in 2021.
In a follow-up statement, CSA confirmed that they received Hain’s letter, but reiterated the position taken by the ECB, noting that since the Champions Trophy is an ICC event, “the stance on Afghanistan must align with the guidelines set by the global governing body regarding international tournament participation requirements and regulations.”
This viewpoint is also shared by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called on the ICC to “adhere to their own regulations,” which stipulate that all Test-playing nations must have a national women’s team and a women’s cricket program in place.
Also Read:- British Lawmakers Urged ECB To Boycott The Match Against Afghanistan
Nevertheless, an ICC spokesperson informed ESPNcricinfo that the Afghanistan Cricket Board should not be held liable for the policies enacted by its national government.
“The ICC will not impose penalties on the ACB, or its players, for following the laws established by their country’s government. We will continue to leverage our influence in a constructive manner to aid the ACB in developing cricket and providing playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan.”
Both the ECB and Cricket Australia, who are also part of Group B in the Champions Trophy, have declined to compete against Afghanistan in bilateral matches, with Australia having postponed a T20 series that was supposed to take place last March indefinitely.
On the other hand, South Africa did compete against Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series in the UAE in September, with CSA stating at that time that it would persist in arranging bilateral matches as there was “no reason to subject Afghan cricket players – both male and female – to additional persecution due to the actions of the Taliban.”
