Afghanistan is the only ICC Full Member that does not have a women’s team, with significant restrictions imposed on women in the country under the Taliban government.
This is the first bilateral series between the two countries and only the third time South Africa will play 50-over cricket against Afghanistan after meeting them at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. These fixtures are not part of the 2023-2027 Future Tours Programme (FTP) and have been added to the calendar as CSA seeks more competitive opportunities for its teams. SACA welcomed these additions, and said in a statement they “respect the position of CSA in this regard as the national governing body for cricket.”
However, SACA, on behalf of the players, wanted to add a voice of concern for the “deteriorating human rights for women under the Taliban rule,” and reiterate their support in promoting women’s cricket everywhere.
“World Cricketers’ Association and SACA do not condone any situation in which women’s players are excluded from competing in our sport,” Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO and WCA board member, said. “Every athlete has the right to equality of opportunity which is protected by international law and set out in the Universal Declaration of Player Rights. That means each player has the right to equality of opportunity in the pursuit of sport, free of discrimination, harassment and violence. A player’s right to pursue sport cannot be limited because of his or her gender. We urge CSA to utilise the leverage available to it through this series to highlight that these rights for Afghanistan’s women’s players must be protected and respected.”
On Monday, South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter was asked whether there was any consideration not to play against Afghanistan given the current regime. He passed the onus onto Cricket South Africa, without offering any personal opinion. “To be honest, those decisions are not for me to make. Ultimately, the heads of CSA decide whether we do or don’t play and so that’s the extent of it,” he said.
South Africa will play Afghanistan in three ODIs in Sharjah from next Wednesday, before facing Ireland in two T20Is and three ODIs in Abu Dhabi.
