Australian government wants Afghanistan kicked from cricket’s top tier

The Australian government has called on world cricket’s governing body to turf Afghanistan out of the top tier of the world game over the country’s treatment of women.

As Australia prepare to play Afghanistan for a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts urged the International Cricket Council to enforce its own rules against the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi in action during the Champions Trophy.Credit: AP

Cricket Australia will not boycott Friday’s game in Lahore but has previously called off bilateral series against Afghanistan after the Taliban regained power in 2021 and imposed bans on women playing the sport. It will be the fourth time in as many years Australia and Afghanistan have played in a tournament run by the ICC.

Watts lauded CA for taking a stand by refusing to stage bilateral series against Afghanistan but said the ICC needed to take action as well.

“Cricket Australia has made its own decision about Australia’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy,” Watts said in a statement to this masthead.

“It was the first body to take a stand and refuse to play bilateral matches against Afghanistan. It should be applauded for that.

“The ICC’s own rules make it clear that Test-playing nations must support women’s cricket. The ICC should enforce its own rules against the Afghanistan cricket authorities.

“We will not stand by and allow the ongoing situation in Afghanistan to become a ‘new normal’.

“The Australian government has been a world leader in the global condemnation of Afghanistan’s revolting repression of women.”

Afghanistan was accepted as a full member nation in 2017 despite not having a women’s program at the time and failing to comply with the ICC constitution. This was done in the belief that full member status, which entitled them to more funding from the ICC, would help it build a women’s program.

The return to power of the Taliban, and its draconian stance against the rights of women to participate in sport, means Afghanistan still do not satisfy key ICC criteria.

“The ICC remains closely engaged with the situation in Afghanistan and continues to collaborate with our Members,” an ICC spokesperson said in a statement.

“We are committed to leveraging our influence constructively to support the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in fostering cricket development and ensuring playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan.

“The ICC has established an Afghanistan cricket task force, chaired by deputy chairman Mr Imran Khwaja, who will lead the ongoing dialogue on this matter.”

CA in 2021 postponed what would have been an historic first Test against Afghanistan, and also pulled out of hosting an ODI series in 2023. Last month, it staged an exhibition match for a refugee Afghanistan women’s team, more than three years after players fled the Taliban regime.

CA said it was bound by ICC rules to play all scheduled matches in ICC tournaments.

“We are proud of the efforts of the Australian cricket community which has supported members of the Afghanistan women’s team in their relocation to Australia and provided opportunities for them to play,” a CA spokesperson said.

“The postponement of bilateral matches against the Afghanistan men was in response to a significant deterioration in human rights in that country.

“The situation in Afghanistan remains complex, therefore CA is continuing to work with the Australian government and the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

“We enter ICC events understanding there is an obligation to play all scheduled games.”

CA was accused of “virtue-signalling” by former ICC chair Greg Barclay in December for its refusal to host Afghanistan in bilateral series but not pulling out of World Cup matches against the nation.

“If you want to make a political statement, don’t play them in a World Cup,” Barclay told The Telegraph in London.

“Sure, it might cost you a semi-final place, but principles are principles. It’s not about having half a principle.”

An Afghan woman poses for a photo with her cricket bat in Kabul in 2022.Credit: AP

The scrutiny over Afghanistan’s participation in world cricket comes at a time when its men’s team is rising through the ranks.

The game’s newest Test nation made the semi-finals of last year’s Twenty20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean, and finished a respectable sixth in the 2023 World Cup, ahead of former winners England and Sri Lanka.

Their eight-run victory over England on Wednesday night means they will advance to the final four of the Champions Trophy if they defeat Australia.

Afghanistan upset England

AAP

Afghanistan have caused the sensation of the Champions Trophy by knocking England out with a nail-biting eight-run win in Lahore – and now they’ll set their sights on eliminating Australia too.

The Afghans prevailed in a thriller at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, Ibrahim Zadran smashing the tournament’s highest-ever score of 177 in their 7-325 before England fell just short, bowled out for 317, despite Joe Root’s superb 120.

The victory sparked ecstatic celebrations from tournament debutants Afghanistan, who now face Australia in the final group B match at the same stadium on Friday, knowing they’ll seal a place in a second-straight semi-final of an ICC showpiece after last year’s T20 World Cup should they beat Steve Smith’s side.

Victory is a must for Australia on their quest for a third title as it would seal their place in the last-four, but defeat to the Afghans would send Smith’s men spinning out of the tournament should South Africa then beat demoralised England in Saturday’s final group B match.

Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib, left, celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Liam Livingstone, right, during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and England in Lahore, Pakistan.Credit: AP

Currently, Australia are on three points alongside South Africa, but lagging behind on net run-rate (2.140 to 0.475) with Afghanistan on two points with a minus-0.990 net run rate.

“It means a lot to me… as much as you work hard, I had trusted in myself. I wanted to bat longer and longer. That 177 is a special moment for me,” said Zadran, who batted all 50 overs for his record-breaking score.

But he’s even more enthused about the prospect of what’s to come. “We’ll try and play better cricket in the next game. We’re going to play against Australia and we’ll try not to do too many mistakes. We’ll have a plan.”

Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi added: “I know the whole nation will be happy. Hopefully, we take this momentum with us for the next game against Australia.”

For England, though, who also lost their opener to Australia in Lahore, the defeat simply represents the nadir of a terrible white-ball winter, with a big question mark now over the future of captain Jos Buttler.

Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai, center on shoulder, and teammates celebrate after winning the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match against England, in Lahore, Pakistan.Credit: AP

“I don’t want to say any emotional statements right now,” Buttler said afterwards.

“For myself and the guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities.”

Australia will know what a tough match awaits them on Friday as Afghanistan demonstrated why their win over England at the 2023 World Cup in India was no fluke.

The 23-year-old Zadran’s innings was magnificent, featuring 12 fours and six sixes, after Afghanistan had elected to bat and had to withstand a triple strike from Jofra Archer (3-64) in the first five overs.

Zadran repaired the damage with skipper Shahidi (40) in a 103-run partnership.

But it was only in the last 10 overs that he really excelled, smashing Archer for 20 in one of them as Afghanistan rattled up 113 off the final 60 balls and Zadran went past Ben Duckett’s individual Champions Trophy record of 165 made against Australia last Saturday.

With the pressure on, England were reliant Root’s mastery to hold the chase together as fast bowler Azmat Omarzai, who’d also cracked 41 off 31 balls, proved their bowling star with 5-58.

Omarzai’s victims included Phil Salt, the first wicket in the innings to fall as he departed for just 12, Buttler for 38 and, most critically, Root for 120.

The Yorkshire maestro had been at the crease for 111 balls when tempted to swat at a short ball, which he could only glove behind, leaving England 7-287, with 30 still needed.

Jamie Overton made a late, brave 32 but once he too had fallen to Omarzai, England were doomed, leaving their former batter Jonathan Trott, who now coaches Afghanistan, to celebrate.

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