CSA confirms South Africa will keep playing bilateral series against Afghanistan.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed it will continue to engage Afghanistan in bilateral series, despite criticism from groups such as Lawyers for Human Rights. The criticism arises from concerns that by playing Afghanistan, CSA is implicitly supporting the Taliban regime, which has imposed severe restrictions on women, including banning them from sports and most public activities. However, CSA clarified that it does not believe in penalizing Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team for the actions of their government.

Gender Equity Without Punishing Innocent Players

In a statement, CSA emphasized its support for gender equity, stating that “women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and success,” but reiterated its stance against isolating the Afghanistan men’s team. They argued that advocating for gender equality should not come at the expense of one gender and that Afghan cricket players should not face additional punishment for the Taliban’s policies. CSA plans to address the issue within the International Cricket Council (ICC) rather than impose unilateral sanctions.

ICC and CSA’s Position on Afghanistan

This approach aligns with the ICC, which has refrained from banning Afghanistan, as the country remains the only Full Member without a women’s team. The ICC is also mindful of the risks Afghan women might face under the Taliban if pressured to establish a national women’s cricket team. On the other hand, Cricket Australia has refused to play Afghanistan in bilateral series, citing human rights abuses as the reason.

Lessons from South Africa’s Apartheid Era

CSA’s own history of sporting isolation during the apartheid era shapes its stance. The ban on South Africa from international sport during that period failed to change the government’s policies, and CSA believes economic sanctions, rather than sporting ones, were more effective in bringing about change. CSA also noted that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had made efforts to promote women’s cricket before the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

Current ODI Series Between South Africa and Afghanistan

South Africa is currently playing a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE. The remaining matches are scheduled for Friday and Sunday.