Mohammad Nabi added fuel to the fire by daring Australia to boycott them in the World Cup
The pressure is mounting on Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and it could culminate with some serious action, if not necessarily suspension, from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Cricket Australia (CA) decision to pull out from a three-match ODI series, a part of the ICC ODI Super League, has made things serious for the Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) despite the outrage expressed by Rashid Khan and the ACB. Mohammad Nabi added fuel to the fire by daring Australia to boycott them in the World Cup.
“It is not right to mix politics with sports. The same regime was there during the World Cup and why did they play us? Because they wanted two points. They wanted a good NRR to progress in the World Cup. What will they do in the World Cup in India? We will see if they will boycott us there? The reason they have given is not right,” the former Afghanistan captain, who plays for Sharjah Warriors, told Cricbuzz after a team’s net session at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai on Friday (January 13).
The Afghan players’ anguish notwithstanding, a decision on the ACB’s failure to comply with the ICC protocols will be taken at the next ICC meeting, scheduled for March, and any contemplated action is mainly due to the country’s Taliban-led government’s policies against women’s rights. A spokesperson for the ICC confirmed this.
“We are concerned by recent developments in Afghanistan and the ICC board will consider the implications of these developments at its next meeting and we remain in contact with other global sporting organisations who share our aim of seeing men and women playing sport in Afghanistan,” an ICC spokesperson told Cricbuzz.
The ICC has taken a serious view of the ACB’s failure to raise a women’s team, a requisite for a full member of the world body. Aggravating the situation is the recent decision of the local Taliban Government to clamp down on women’s rights and bar them from studying in the universities.
“We want to see men and women safely playing cricket in Afghanistan and have consistently held the view that the best was to achieve this is by supporting our Member, the Afghanistan Cricket Board, in its endeavours to develop the game in the country,” the ICC spokesperson further said. There are two ICC events back-to-back in South Africa in January and February – the maiden Under 19 championship and the T20 WC. Needles to say, there is no Afghanistan team in either competition.
The ICC-ACB standoff is only one part of the problem and the other side to it is CA’s decision to cancel its March tour of UAE for a three-ODI series which would have been hosted by the Afghan board. More serious ramification – albeit a little premature at this stage but not entirely irrelevant – is, as Nabi said, will Australia boycott playing Afghanistan in the World Cup to be held in November-December in India and will some other international boards take similar measures?
On a related cause, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has permitted its women players the freedom to choose if they want to boycott the awards ceremony in the ICC events because of its sponsorship of the awards by a Saudi company, Aramco.
Meanwhile, the CA and the ACB have been engaged in a war of words with Rashid Khan, one of the biggest names in world cricket and a huge star in Afghanistan, threatening to boycott the Big Bash League (BBL). “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 in a social media post after the CA announced its decision on Thursday.
Terming the CA withdrawal pathetic, the ACB said, “By prioritizing 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 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 also said it will rethink issuing the NOCs to the Afghan players for participation in the BBL.
Apart from Rashid, who played for Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, other Afghan players in the Australian league at different times have been Mohammad Nabi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Qais Ahmad, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Izharulhaq Naveed and Naveen-ul-Haq.
“This decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms. CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” the Australian board said announcing the pullout.
The ACB has countered that saying, “Cricket has played a significant role in promoting unity and national pride in Afghanistan. After years of war and conflict, cricket has helped to bring people together and provide a sense of normalcy to the country. It has also been an important source of hope and inspiration for all Afghans, particularly young people. In addition, Cricket has also been an important tool for promoting education and social development in the country,” the ACB said, threatening to complain to the ICC. Not coincidentally enough, the ICC itself is contemplating action against the ACB.
