South Africa Minister: Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy Spot ‘Hypocritical

The controversy surrounding Afghanistan’s participation in next month’s ICC Champions Trophy continues to intensify as pressure mounts on both the Group B participants and the ICC. South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has voiced strong opposition to the Taliban’s treatment of women, drawing comparisons to the oppressive Apartheid regime. McKenzie argued that it would be […]

McKenzie’s comments add to the growing backlash against Afghanistan’s involvement in the prestigious tournament, with many questioning the legitimacy of their participation while women in the country are banned from playing sports. The controversy highlights the increasing tension between the global sporting world and regimes with policies that disregard human rights, particularly women’s rights in Afghanistan.

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McKenzie’s intervention comes as South Africa prepares to face Afghanistan in their tournament opener in Karachi on February 21. His remarks follow similar political pressure on other Group B participants, including England. Earlier this week, a group of 160 British politicians urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott their match against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26, citing concerns over the Taliban’s treatment of women.

“If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” McKenzie said in a statement from South Africa’s Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture. “As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.”

Peter Hain and International Reactions to Afghanistan’s Women’s Cricket Ban

His intervention follows a letter from Peter Hain, the prominent anti-apartheid campaigner and former British government minister, who reached out to Cricket South Africa to express his concerns about the Taliban’s ban on women’s and girls’ cricket in Afghanistan. This ban has been in place since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

In response, Cricket South Africa (CSA) acknowledged receiving Hain’s letter but reiterated the stance taken by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). CSA stated that, as the Champions Trophy is an ICC event, it falls under the governance of the International Cricket Council, leaving them with limited influence over the participation of Afghanistan in the tournament, “the position on Afghanistan must be guided by the world body in accordance with international tournament participation requirements and regulations”.

This stance has been echoed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has called on the ICC to “deliver on their own rules.” These rules stipulate that all Test-playing nations must have a national women’s team and a program dedicated to women’s cricket, highlighting the inconsistency in Afghanistan’s participation given the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports.

However, an ICC spokesperson told IPLbookmakers that the Afghanistan Cricket Board should not be held responsible for the policies set by its national government, implying that the board has limited control over the actions of the Taliban regime.

“The ICC will not penalise the ACB, or its players, for abiding by the laws set by the government of their country. We will continue to constructively use our influence to assist the ACB in developing cricket and playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan.”

Both the ECB and Cricket Australia, who make up the four teams in Champions Trophy Group B, have declined to engage Afghanistan in bilateral contests. Australia, in particular, has indefinitely postponed a T20 series that was originally scheduled for last March, reflecting their stance on the issue.

South Africa did, however, face Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series in the UAE in September, with CSA stating at the time that it would continue to schedule bilateral engagements as there was “no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players – both male and female – to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban.”