Outgoing Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley rejects claims of hypocrisy amid calls to boycott Champions Trophy clash with Afghanistan

Australia will play Afghanistan at the upcoming Champions Trophy but not in other internationals until their leaders change one significant thing.

Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley has again rejected calls to boycott a clash with Afghanistan at the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament declaring a decision not to play them outside of tournaments was a “pretty clear” stance and the only action in their control.

Politicians from a variety of countries heading to the Champions Trophy have called for games against Afghanistan to be boycotted due to the Taliban’s stance on women’s sport, which has forced exiled members of the national team to come together in Melbourne to play.

Since Taliban ruled resumed in Afghanistan in 2021, women cannot play international sport, but the men’s cricket team is touring the world and will play Australia in next month’s ODI tournament in Pakistan.

CA has twice cancelled tours of Afghanistan after being scheduled to play, earning the ire of Big Bash star, and Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan, with no plays for any bilateral series in the future.

One of the most unforgettable Australian innings came in the 2023 World Cup against Afghanistan when Glenn Maxwell belted a double-century.

Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus@BBL@ACBofficials ♥️ 🇦🇫 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZPpvOBetPJ

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 12, 2023

But Hockley said CA was “duty bound” to play Afghanistan at ICC tournaments and again dismissed claims of hypocrisy levelled by former ICC chairman Greg Barclay, and political calls from England and South Africa to boycott the games.

“We are duty bound under the terms of arrangements for ICC events to play all of our scheduled fixtures. Again, it goes back to what can we do that is within our control,” Hockley said.

“We have been clear and consistent. We have, obviously, played Afghanistan in other ICC events. You have to draw a line somewhere. I think we have made our stance pretty clear.”

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley and members of the Afghanistan XI (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

Instead Hockley said the charity match being played at the Junction Oval in Melbourne this week between an an Afghanistan women’s XI and team assembled by Cricket Without Borders would highlight the issue.

“I think it’s going to be such an exciting day on Thursday, and my hope is that promotes lots of conversations, that this becomes an annual thing and then ultimately, that this team were able to compete on the international stage as is their want,” he said.

“I don’t think any of us can comprehend what they’ve been through moving to a new country in such difficult circumstances, not speaking the language. I’m just inspired by their resilience, their love for the game and hopefully this game just raises awareness, a real beacon of hope.”