Cricket Australia (CA) has defended its stance on refusing to play Afghanistan in a bilateral series after coming under criticism from outgoing ICC chair Greg Barclay.
Barclay, who is handing over the reins to India’s Jay Shah, took a pointed dig at CA for playing Afghanistan in major tournaments but cancelling various head-to-head series against the country.
“If you really want to make a political statement, don’t play them in a World Cup,” Barclay said in an interview with The Telegraph newspaper in Great Britain.
“Sure, it might cost you a semifinal place, but principles are principles. It’s not about having half a principle.”
CA chair Mike Baird was surprised by Barclay’s comments, saying he “hadn’t heard those views before in any kind of forum”.
“We’re very proud of the position we’ve taken, and we’re supporting the Afghan women’s cricket team and those members that are still here [based in Australia],” Baird said.
“We’ve taken a position, and we’re proudly standing up where we think we should.”
The ICC has not penalised Afghanistan despite its women’s team being unable to play in their country since the Taliban reclaimed power in 2021.
Australia played Afghanistan at last year’s men’s ODI World Cup, best known for Glenn Maxwell’s extraordinary unbeaten 201 that sealed a stunning win.
Afghanistan defeated Australia at the men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. (Getty Images: Gareth Copley)
But Afghanistan turned the tables to famously beat Australia in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, booking a historic semifinal spot.
CA has cancelled multiple bilateral series against Afghanistan for the last three years, citing marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls since the Taliban returned.
An Afghanistan women’s XI will play a match against a CA XI at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on January 30, ahead of the day-night Ashes Test at the MCG.
The players involved have been living in Melbourne and Canberra since 2021.
“That event that’s going to come at the end of January is going to be a celebration of women,” Baird said.
After Afghanistan’s men’s team made the T20 World Cup semifinals, the women’s players used the opportunity to plead their case to the ICC, urging them to set up a refugee side out of Australia.
“We are asking the ICC to assist us in setting up a refugee team in Australia,” the women wrote to the ICC in an open letter in July.
“It could be administered by the East Asian Cricket office based at Cricket Australia.
“Through this team, we aim to represent all Afghan women who dream of playing cricket but are unable to in Afghanistan.”
AAP
