Australia Refused to play against Afghanistan in March 2023

[social]

ICC members are obligated to schedule series against other members as part of FTP

Failure to do so leaves the board(s) open to ICC penalties

Reality is that you can go through some nations scheduling and point to series which are either unlikely to be played or will involve a B squad

This is one such series

 

[Migara]

Australian cricket and morals rarely go in the same sentence with positive context. However this is an odd instance they have done a good job.

 

[cnerd123]

Read what Rashid khan says

Basically - Australia not playing us is denying us a chance to develop, so in retaliation we will further deny ourselves chances to develop by boycotting the BBL

I sympathise with the players. It's not their call to ban Women from sports, and they're probably being pressured by the Taliban to make statements and 'retaliate' in order to show their loyalty to the regime. It's a tough spot.

But if South Africa were blacklisted from cricket during Apartheid then yes, Afghanistan should be blacklisted under Taliban rule. At the very least removed of 'full member' status - which is a dumb ****ing construct to begin with TBH. Let everyone play Tests and ODIs ffs.

 

[a spambot]

Politics aside, I don't think teams being able to unilaterally cancel a series without repercussion is healthy for the game of cricket.

 

[trundler]

Generally not a fan of sporting boycotts based on political reasons unless they interfere with the sport itself. Not allowing half your population to play cricket is definitely part of the exception though so it's hard to argue against CA's reasoning.

 

[Tom Flint]

Let's not get convinced that there are any moral reasons for Australia cancelling this series. They hosted Afghanistan in the world cup and played a game against them there without having an issue.
Now they are using the excuse of girls not being allowed to uni as the reason for not travelling to the uae. Life was pretty harsh on females in Afghanistan before this latest announcement too.

 

[social]

Let's not get convinced that there are any moral reasons for Australia cancelling this series. They hosted Afghanistan in the world cup and played a game against them there without having an issue.
Now they are using the excuse of girls not being allowed to uni as the reason for not travelling to the uae. Life was pretty harsh on females in Afghanistan before this latest announcement too.

WC is an ICC tournament and it was their decision to include Afghanistan

This is different

 

[TheJediBrah]

He's probably right though. Doesn't change that they're doing the right thing but CA wouldn't have wanted to do it anyway and this is a great excuse.

 

[Tom Flint]

WC is an ICC tournament and it was their decision to include Afghanistan

This is different

If you feel that strongly you can refuse to play and forfeit the points in the wc group stage. No one forced them onto the field.

 

[Tom Flint]

England forfeited wc points against Zimbabwe in 2003

 

[social]

Australia forfeited against Sri Lanka in 1996, In basketball against Iran last year etc

While CA has form when it comes to pulling out of series for “reasons”, this team was also the first to tour Pakistan in 16 years and visited SL against the advice of the Australian government

Women’s sport is a primary focus of Australian sporting bodies, equality is a priority of the government and the Taliban leadership has been interviewed by our media so Joe Public is aware of their views

Add all those things up & pulling out was an easy decision

 

[Cruxdude]

I understand that it's not exactly easy for the cricketers to speak up for the women in their country, it's not fair to require that of them.

But in that case they should pipe down about this.

Rashid Khan did speak up when women were banned from learning and I can understand their frustration. But can't really blame Australia when any money raised through this series probably helps Taliban.

 

[Prince EWS]

Generally not a fan of sporting boycotts based on political reasons unless they interfere with the sport itself. Not allowing half your population to play cricket is definitely part of the exception though so it's hard to argue against CA's reasoning.

Yeah agree with this. I would've gone ahead with the tour myself but it's definitely a justifiable reason to cancel it.

 

[TheJediBrah]

England forfeited wc points against Zimbabwe in 2003

Bit different when you're not going to make it anyway