Australia indefinitely postponed the T20I series against Afghanistan

Australia’s men’s cricket team has again canceled a scheduled series against Afghanistan, citing women’s rights violations under the Taliban regime. Prior to the ICC World Cup 2023, Australia was to play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in March 2023. But they postponed the series, and now that the dates of their clash in a T20I series against Afghanistan were getting closer, they again postponed it. The three-match T20I series was scheduled for August 2023 in the UAE. However, CA has reiterated its commitment to renewing the bilateral series only if the conditions for women and girls improve.

So far, according to Cricket Australia, they have consulted with the Australian government, and as per them, there’s hardly any improvement in the women’s and girls’ conditions in Afghanistan. That’s why CA has maintained its stance on postponing the bilateral series with Afghanistan.

“Over the past 12 months CA has continued to consult with the Australian government on the situation in Afghanistan. The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse. For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan.
CA’s statement said.

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, back in 2023, threatened the CA with pulling out of the Big Bash League if they continued postponing the series, as cricket should remain free from politics.

Australia and Afghanistan last played a match against each other during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, where Afghanistan almost gave the eventual winners a scare while chasing the target of 292 runs. Australia lost their seven wickets under the score of 100. But Glenn Maxwell’s incredible innings of 201 (unbeaten) and Pat Cummins’ support from the other end ensured the victory for Australia, who later defeated the crowd favorite India in the finals of the 2023 World Cup.