Despite the criticism, South Africa did play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in September 2024 in the UAE, and CSA has stated that it will continue scheduling bilateral matches with Afghanistan
10 January, 2025
PHOTO: AFP
South Africa's sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has voiced strong opposition to Afghanistan’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. McKenzie criticized the Taliban regime’s treatment of women, comparing it to Apartheid in South Africa. He called it “hypocritical and immoral” to ignore the issue and allow Afghanistan to compete.
Afghanistan is set to face South Africa in the tournament’s opening match on February 21, 2025, in Karachi. McKenzie’s comments come after increasing pressure on Afghanistan’s participation, especially following the Taliban's ban on women’s sports in the country.
“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.”
McKenzie’s remarks add to the growing pressure on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Afghanistan’s Cricket Board. Earlier this week, 160 British politicians urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott their match against Afghanistan on February 26 in Lahore.
The controversy also saw Peter Hain, a former British government minister and anti-Apartheid campaigner, writing to Cricket South Africa (CSA), expressing his concerns about the Taliban’s ban on women’s and girls’ cricket. The ban has been in place since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
CSA acknowledged Hain’s letter but said it would follow the ICC’s guidelines, which state that tournament participation is determined by the world body. The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, also urged the ICC to enforce its rules, which require all Test-playing nations to have a national women’s team.
An ICC spokesperson stated that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) cannot be blamed for the actions of the Taliban government. The spokesperson said, “The ICC will not penalize the ACB, or its players, for abiding by the laws set by the government of their country.” The ICC also added that it would continue to help Afghanistan develop cricket opportunities for both men and women.
Despite the criticism, South Africa did play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in September 2024 in the UAE, and CSA has stated that it will continue scheduling bilateral matches with Afghanistan, as there is “no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players - both male and female - to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban.”
The issue has sparked heated debate as the Champions Trophy approaches, with the ICC caught between political pressures and its commitment to allowing Afghanistan to compete.
