Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Afghanistan Chief Selector Criticizes Australia for Linking Cricket to Politics

Cricket Australia has avoided bilateral series over Taliban restrictions on women.

Overview

  • Asadullah Khan said tying cricket decisions to politics harms the sport and urged boards to engage with Afghanistan.
  • He pointed out that Australia withdrew from a Hobart Test in 2021, an ODI series in 2023 and T20Is in 2024, citing the Taliban’s curbs on women.
  • Khan argued Afghanistan earned ICC full-member status on performance, warned isolation hurts the men’s team, and acknowledged women’s cricket has been inactive since 2021.
  • He thanked India for continued support and noted Afghan players’ participation in the IPL as a crucial avenue for exposure.
  • Khan said the men’s side feels prepared for the next T20 World Cup despite limited match time and added that few Test fixtures hinder long-format development.