Afghanistan Cricket Board responded over Cricket Australia’s announcement

• Cricket Australia withdraws from Afghanistan one-day series.
• ACB slams decision as ‘pathetic’ and ‘unfortunate’.
• Naveen-ul-Haq opts out of Big Bash League 2023.

The “pathetic” announcement by Cricket Australia that they would not be participating in the three-match ODI series between the two teams was scorned by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

Australia said on Thursday that it would not participate in the next one-day international series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates due to Taliban efforts to severely curtail women’s rights.

Meanwhile, the ACB expressed its displeasure and announced that it would bring the issue before the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“Afghanistan Cricket Board is extremely disappointed and saddened by the pathetic statement of Cricket Australia to withdraw from Afghanistan’s home three-match ODI series in March and will officially write to the International Cricket Council about the issue,” an ACB statement read.

Because it followed “consultation and probable enforcement from the Australian Government,” the board described the decision to withdraw from the series as “an unfortunate attempt to enter the domain of politics and politicise the sport.”

It 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.” according to the ACB.

The board is also rethinking the participation of Afghan players in the Big Bash League if the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan’s home series is not reversed (BBL).

After learning of the latest development, Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who is playing for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL 13, made the choice to leave the league, calling Australia’s move to end the series “childish.”

The hosts had made all of the necessary logistical arrangements for the show, so the board would suffer a financial loss.

“The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has been working to promote cricket in schools and universities, and it has also been using the sport to promote healthy lifestyles and discourage young people from getting involved in drugs and crime,” the board said.

“Cricket has been an important tool for promoting peace, unity, and development in Afghanistan, and it will continue to be a source of inspiration and hope for the people of the country in the years to come.”

Before the early 2000s, cricket was hardly recognised in Afghanistan, and its sudden growth in popularity was tied to the war; Afghan refugees who fled to Pakistan picked up the sport and spread it back home.

However, since then, the national team has seen a remarkable rise on the international stage, earning coveted Test status in 2017 and currently being ranked among the top-10 teams in the world in the ODI and T20 formats.

Also Read

Australia ends its ODI series against Afghanistan

Australia's men's squad have withdrawn from their ODI series. Girls are also...