Australia’s decision to pull out of a proposed ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE has not gone down well with some sections of the cricketing fraternity, with Afghan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq pulling out of the Big Bash League (BBL) in retaliation.
Naveen’s decision comes hours after Cricket Australia announced their decision to pull out of the tour in protest against the Taliban regime’s discriminatory policies that prevent women and girls from playing sports in the mountainous south Asian nation.
“Time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them,” Naveen wrote on Twitter.
Naveen, who has made seven ODI and 22 T20I appearances for the Afghan Atalans, represents Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash and has made two appearances so far this season, against Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes respectively.
The Taliban, which returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 after overthrowing the US-backed government led by president Ashraf Ghani, had recently banned women and girls from playing any sport, with many female athletes having to hide behind veils or having to flee in fear of retaliation.
The authoritarian regime, whose promises of being more reformed and in tune with the modern world after returning to power have fallen flat, had earlier banned education for women and girls.
Australia, who were supposed to fly to the UAE after their tour of India, added that they would engage with Afghanistan in improving the condition of women and girls in the country after announcing their decision to withdraw from the tour.
“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” read a statement from Cricket Australia posted on Twitter.
Australia’s exit from the tour will result in the Afghan team being awarded 30 competition points that will be added to their tally in the ongoing ICC ODI Super League tally.
The five-time ODI world champions though, will not be affected by the loss of points as they have already secured automatic qualification for the World Cup that is to be hosted in India later this year.
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