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Australia Pull Out From Afghanistan ODI Series, Rashid Threatens BBL Boycott

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Rashid Khan has threatened to boycott the BBL after Australia cancelled their upcoming series against Afghanistan over the Taliban’s treatment of women.

Justice Australia( CA) on Thursday decided to withdraw from the forthcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s growing restrictions on women and girls in that country and retribution, ACB and star player Rashid Khan hovered to swap the Big Bash League. While Afghanistan Cricket Board( ACB) described CA’s decision as” pathetic”, Rashid blasted Cricket Australia on social media.

Australia was slated to take on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series as part of the ICC Super League in UAE in March following their stint with India.

Still, after” expansive discussion with applicable stakeholders, including the Australian Government”, the CA decided to abandon the institution.

Cricket Australia has decided that it’s unfit to do at this time with the forthcoming ICC Super League three-match Men’s ODI series between Australia and Afghanistan listed for the UAE in March 2023,” CA said in a statement.

“This decision follows the recent advertisement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment openings and their capability to pierce premises and gymnasiums .”

Since seizing back control of the war-torn country in August 2021, the Taliban have steadily confined women’s rights- despite promising their rule this time would be softer than the governance seen in the 1990s.

Women were banned from attending university and working for non-governmental organizations ( NGOs) last month.

Afghanistan is the only ICC full member nation without a women’s platoon, and will not have a platoon at the initial Women’s U19 T20 World Cup starting on Saturday.

In his defense, ACB said Cricket Australia’s decision is political and will be a big reversal to the growth of the sport in the country.

Afghanistan Cricket Board is extremely disappointed and burdened 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,” ACB said in a statement.

“The ACB is nearly covering the situation and is considering taking action, including officially writing to ICC and redefining the participation of Afghan players in the Big Bash League( BBL), if the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan’s home series isn’t capsized.”

Rashid Khan too hovered to pull out of the Big Bash League in Australia.

“I’m disappointed to hear that Australia has pulled out of the series to play us in March,” Rashid said.

“I take great pride in representing my country, and we’ve made great progress on the world stage. This decision from CA sets us back in that trip.

Still, also I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL,” If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia. thus, I’ll be explosively considering my future in that competition,” he twittered.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice has also expressed concern over Afghanistan’s lack of commitment towards women’s justice, saying the sport’s global governing body will bandy the matter at its coming board meeting.

“The recent developments in Afghanistan are concerning,” Allardice had said before.

“Our board has been covering progress since the change of governance. It’s a concern that progress isn’t being made in Afghanistan and it’s a commodity our board will consider at its coming meeting in March.”

By withdrawing from the March institution, Australia will lose 30 competition points which will be awarded to Afghanistan.

Still, the points will be of little significance as Australia has formerly qualified for the ODI World Cup latterly this time in India.

This isn’t the first time CA has taken a strong station against the Taliban- ruled Afghanistan due to its programs against women.

Australia had indefinitely laid over the one-off Test against the South Asian nation slated to be played in Hobart in November 2021.

The two brigades are listed to meet doubly more in the coming couple of times with three T20Is listed for a neutral venue in August 2024, followed by Afghanistan’s stint with Australia in August 2026 for one Test and three T20Is. Know More Latest News…

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