Aaron Finch, Australia’s white-ball captain. said on Wednesday that Australia’s players support the country’s board over its threat to call-off a Test with Afghanistan if the Taliban regime ban women from playing cricket.
Cricket Australia said it would cancel the November 27 Test in Hobart if reports that women in Afghanistan would be banned from playing the game were substantiated.
Aaron Finch Supports Cricket Australia’s Position To Cancel The One-Off Hobart Test Against Afghanistan
Governing body Cricket Australia said it would cancel the November 27 Test in Hobart if reports emerge that Afghanistan women are banned from playing cricket like the Taliban’s previous regime.
“It’s a really challenging time no doubt, but we’re supportive of Cricket Australia’s position,” Aaron Finch told reporters in a media call.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said last month it was committed to women’s cricket though it was awaiting instructions from the government on its future. Afghanistan’s men’s squad is preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman starting on October 17.
Australia’s Test captain Tim Paine said last month teams might refuse to play Afghanistan at the World Cup and questioned how the International Cricket Council, the sport’s global governing body, could sanction their participation in the tournament.
With the state of Afghanistan in political turmoil and the Taliban not in support of women’s cricket, Tim Paine had stated that the current teams would not love to play against a country that is taking off opportunities from half of their population. Tim Paine also asserted that there’s no word from the apex body ICC on the matter.
Aaron Finch Hopeful That Things Will Be Resolved
The ICC will discuss Afghanistan and women’s cricket at its next board meeting during the World Cup. Aaron Finch declined to say whether Australia would feel comfortable playing the Afghans at the World Cup, where they would not meet unless both teams advance to at least the semi-finals.
“That’s an ICC decision,” Aaron Finch said.
“We’re hopeful that things can resolve themselves and Afghanistan can play a huge part in international cricket. We’ve seen how important they are, the development of their game in Afghanistan no doubt is huge,” Aaron Finch said.
Australia is due to face the Afghanistan men’s team in Hobart from November 27, but Cricket Australia said on Thursday it would not host the side if reports that women’s cricket would not be supported in the war-torn country were substantiated.
Under ICC regulations, nations with Test status must also have an active women’s team, and Australia on Wednesday said it would cancel a maiden Test against Afghanistan in Hobart in November unless the Taliban backtracks.
Afghanistan’s Test against and in Australia is due to take place on November 27. Afghanistan played its first test match in 2018, becoming the 12th test nation. Since then, they have played 6 test matches, compiling a record of 3 wins and 3 defeats. Australia has so far played three international matches against Afghanistan. All three were ODIs, the latest being a World Cup 2019 contest.