Cricket Australia pulls out of series against Afghanistan due to Taliban restrictions on women and girls

The Australian men's cricket team have withdrawn from a one-day international (ODI) series against Afghanistan due to the country's Taliban government having imposed severe restrictions on the rights of women and girls.

The hardline Islamist group, which returned to power in Afghanistan last year, have imposed a series of increasingly severe measures against women under its interpretation of Sharia law. These have include women being required to cover their faces in public, being banned from public parks and exercise facilities and, most recently, being excluded from secondary education.

The nation were scheduled to play three One Day International (ODI) games in the United Arab Emirates in March, but Cricket Australia decided to cancel the series after, according to a statement, “extensive consultation” with “several stakeholders including the Australian Government.”

The statement added "this decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms.

"CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country.

"We thank the Australian Government for its support on this matter."

Australia previously postponed a test match against Afghanistan in November 2021 after the Taliban seized power, but the two countries met at last year's Men's T20 World Cup.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has criticised what it described as a "pathetic statement" by Cricket Australia, and said it is "extremely disappointed and saddened" by the decision.

ACB claimed "Cricket Australia's decision to withdraw from upcoming matches against Afghanistan is coming after consultation and potential enforcement from the Australian Government which is an unfortunate attempt to enter the realm of politics and politicise the sport.

"By prioritising political interests over the principles of fair play and sportsmanship, Cricket Australia is undermining the integrity of the game and damaging the relationship between the two nations.

"The decision to withdraw from playing the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan is unfair and unexpected and will have a negative impact on the development and growth of cricket in Afghanistan as well as will affect the love and passion of the Afghan nation for the game."

It plans to complain to the ICC, suggested it might re-evaluate "the participation of Afghan players in the Big Bash League (BBL)" in Australia.

Spinner Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's T20 captain, has already said he is "strongly considering" his future in the BBL with the Adelaide Strikers.

He has previously criticised a ban on secondary education for girls in Afghanistan.

In November last year, the ACB signed a five-year deal with the Emirates Cricket Board to stage its matches in the UAE.

Afghanistan are the only ICC full member without a women's team.