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Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan is considering his future in the Big Bash League after Australia's men's team withdrew from their one-day series against Afghanistan, citing the Taliban's restrictions on the rights of women and girls.
Key points:
- Rashid Khan has already left midway through the BBL season to play in South Africa
- He said he would be "strongly considering" his future in the Big Bash
- Sydney Sixers player Naveen-ul-Haq described Cricket Australia's decision as "childish"
Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration last month imposed a ban on women attending universities. Girls have been banned from high school since March, and they have also been excluded from parks and gyms.
Australia and Afghanistan were scheduled to play three ODIs in the United Arab Emirates this year, but Cricket Australia (CA) scrapped the series after consultation with stakeholders, including the Australian government.
"I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March," Rashid, who plays for the Adelaide Strikers, said in a statement on Twitter.
"I take great pride in representing my country, and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision from CA sets us back in that journey."
Rashid played eight times for the Strikers this season, but left the BBL this month to compete in South Africa's new Twenty20 league, in which he is captain of MI Cape Town.
"If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia, then I wouldn't want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition," Rashid said.
Australia were scheduled to play a Test match against Afghanistan in November, 2021 but it was postponed after the Taliban seized power in August of that year.
Afghan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq pointed to Australia's previous withdrawal on Twitter.
"Time to say won't be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions," said Naveen, who plays for the Sydney Sixers.
"That's how they went about the one-off test, now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off [sic] being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them."
The ICC Future Tours Programme has Australia touring Afghanistan for three T20 Internationals in August 2024, as well as a historic inaugural Test match and three more T20s in Australia in August 2026.
"It is clearly a very challenging and sad situation," CA chief executive Nick Hockley said.
"Announcements by the Taliban in late November and late December signalling the deterioration of basic human rights for women in Afghanistan led to our decision to withdraw from these games. Basic human rights is not politics.
"We acknowledge and applaud Rashid Khan's and other Afghanistan cricketers' comments at the time condemning the Taliban's decision to ban women from universities.
"Rashid will always be welcome in the BBL."
Politicisation of the sport
With leading Afghan cricket stars expressing their dismay at the Australian move, many cricket lovers are equally skeptical about the ramifications of scrapping the highly anticipated series in the UAE.
Prominent cricket writer Gideon Haigh told the ABC it would be "incredibly naive" to think Afghanistan's leaders could be "shamed into compliance" by CA.
"I don't think the Taliban are likely to abandon any of their restrictions against female participation in the society because of what a cricket organisation has decided," he said.
Sports have tried to make stands against regimes in the past, with Russian and Belarusian athletes not allowed to compete under their countries' flags in recent times due to the invasion of Ukraine, and South African teams rubbed out of numerous global competitions during the apartheid era.
Social media has been buzzing, with people from within the war-ravaged country and the large Afghan diaspora abroad indulging in heated debates on the merits of the Australian move.
And while many have criticised CA for their stance, some Afghan civil society activists in exile have praised the move.
"The fact that more than half of the population is deprived of education, work, social, political and economic activity is only a political issue in your opinion? This is a human disaster! And this is the issue about the survival of Afghanistan", tweeted Shafiqa Khpalwak, a prominent female Afghan activist.
Melbourne-based Afghan activist Ezat Ullah said he was disappointed by CA.
"As a community, we are extremely saddened by the decision of the Australian Cricket Board," he said.
"If Australia wants to punish the Taliban, then there are many other good options at disposal, for example the west should stop back channel discussions with the Taliban, put them back on the black list, put a travel ban on their leaders."
Prominent Afghan cricket commentator Mohammad Ibrahim Momand told the ABC Cricket Australia's move amounts to "snatching the Afghans' right to play".
"The Afghan cricket players have time and again raised their voices for the women and girls' rights under these dire circumstances," he said.
"But they have stayed away from politics as their powers and influence is limited. Therefore, such a political move by Australia, which is an important ICC (International Cricket Council) member, would only further alienate and harm these players and the team."
He added that Afghanistan cricket needs support more than ever as it is the only source of joy for the nation.
Afghanistan Cricket Board calls for review
Within hours of the announcement by CA, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) asked for a review and said it was "extremely disappointed and saddened" by the decision to withdraw.
"Cricket Australia's decision to withdraw … 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," the ACB said.
"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 … 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."
The ACB added that cricket had been an important tool for promoting education and social development in the country.
ABC/Reuters