Afghanistan cricket captain Asghar Afghan hits back at Australia as Hobart Test remains in doubt

Afghanistan’s cricket captain, Asghar Afghan, has blasted Aussie captain Tim Paine for his ‘aggressive’ comments about the country.

It remains to be seen whether Australia's Test with Afghanistan will go ahead. Picture: Getty Images

Afghan cricket captain Asghar Afghan has taken aim at his Australian counterpart Tim Paine, terming the Aussie’s comments about the upcoming T20 World Cup and Hobart Test “aggressive”.

Australia is due to meet Afghanistan in a one-off Test at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval on November 27.

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However, Afghanistan’s tempestuous political situation has cast doubt over the fixture, with Cricket Australia, Paine and Federal Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck all voicing concerns over the state of women’s rights in the country under the Taliban.

On September 9, Cricket Australia released a statement saying Afghanistan would not be welcomed to Hobart if media reports of the Taliban’s condemnation of women’s cricket were corroborated.

“Driving the growth of women’s cricket globally is incredibly important to Cricket Australia,” the statement read.

“Our vision for cricket is that it is a sport for all and we support the game unequivocally for women at every level.

“If recent media reports that women’s cricket will not be supported in Afghanistan are substantiated, Cricket Australia would have no alternative but to not host Afghanistan for the proposed Test Match due to be played in Hobart.”

Speaking on SEN the following day, Paine stood by CA’s statement and conceded that the upcoming Test was likely to be cancelled.

He also questioned the central Asian nation’s right to partake in other future ICC events, including the 2021 T20 World Cup.

“Cricket Australia, the ACA (Australian Cricketers Association) and all players in Australia are hugely supportive of female cricket and trying to grow the game,” Paine said.

“With what’s going on with the Taliban, they are banning women from playing any sport.

“To exclude half your population from being able to do something is not on and I don’t think we want to be associated with countries that are taking opportunities off literally half their population.

“How a team like Afghanistan can be allowed to play in an ICC sanctioned event is going to be very, very hard to see.”

Paine and his players are backing Cricket Australia’s stance on welcoming the Afghanistan Test team. Picture: Jono Searle / Getty Images

On Monday (AEST), Asghar Afghan hit back at Paine, saying the current political climate should not preclude the Afghan cricket side from playing internationally.

“The (Afghanistan national team) has the right to play not only in this World Cup but in all ICC organised tournaments/events in accordance with the rules and regulations of ICC,” he wrote on Twitter.

“I’m sure that our brave National Heroes will perform their best in it.

“As Sportsperson & Professional Cricketer, you know that it require (sic) too much of (sic) hard work and dedication to reach this level of Cricket.”

Afghan has represented his country in all forms of the game. Picture: Clive Mason / Getty Images

Afghan said his side should be recognised for its ability to compete on the world stage without the resources of other nations.

“For a less privileged Cricketing Nation as Afghanistan with zero infrastructure nd (sic) support reaching where we are right now. Playing shoulder to shoulder with top 10 countries require (sic) sheer determination, passion and talent,” he said.

“Therefore, you should refrain from delivering aggressive statements which would result in isolating the Afghan Cricket.

“Cricket is now the No#1 Sport in (Afghanistan) and is being followed by nearly 30 million Afghans.

“This shows, either u r unaware of the circumstances or talking out of contradiction; in any case you r mistreating AFG Cricket and all the gains we have obtained with hardship in the past decade. Sports should be separated from politics.”

Afghan’s comments echoed those made by the sport’s Afghan governing body, the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

“The ICC has been aware of our cultural and religious environment,” the ACB wrote in a statement.

“It has taken a balanced, diplomatic, sensitive and considerate approach as we have worked to develop every aspect of the game of cricket in our country despite the situations we have faced.”

“The alternative to cancellation of the (Hobart) Test match would be for CA to take the same approach as the ICC.

“A considered, balanced, ‘cricket diplomacy’ would be far more productive for Afghanistan and for cricket than a sudden ‘knee jerk’ reaction.”

Originally published as Afghanistan cricket captain Asghar Afghan hits back at Australia as Hobart Test remains in doubt