KARACHI: Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has decided to consider his future in the BigBash League in response to Cricket Australia’s (CA) decision to withdraw from the ODI series against Afghanistan, citing increased restrictions on women’s rights under Taliban rule.
Taking to Twitter, Rashid, who represents Adelaide Strikers in BBL, expressed his disappointment over Cricket Australia’s decision of withdrawing from their three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March, while urging to keep politics out of cricket.
“Cricket! The only hope for the country. Keep politics out of it,” wrote Rashid as he shared his brief statement on the decision.
Afghanistan star Rashid also threatened to leave the ongoing Australian league in response to their cricketing governing body’s decision, which, according to him set Afghanistan back in the journey.
Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus @BBL @ACBofficials ♥️ 🇦🇫 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZPpvOBetPJ— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 12, 2023
“I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March. I take great pride in representing my country and we have made great progress on the world stage,” wrote Rashid.
“This decision from CA sets us back in that journey. If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL.
“Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition.”
Notably, another Afghan cricketer Naveen-ul-Haq, who represents Sydney Sixers in BBL, announced to part ways with the franchise league after the withdrawal announcement by the Australian board.
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 #CA
— Naveen ul haq Murid (@imnaveenulhaq) January 12, 2023
“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,” he tweeted soon after the Cricket Australia’s (CA) pull-out decision.
It is worth mentioning that CA on Thursday announced that the decision to pull out of the series was taken in the wake of the Taliban’s recent announcement regarding further restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment.
“Following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Australian Government, Cricket Australia has decided that it is unable to proceed at this time with the upcoming ICC Super League three-match Men’s ODI series between Australia and Afghanistan scheduled for the UAE in March 2023,” the CA statement said.
“This decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms.”
Following the withdrawal from the series, Australia will forfeit 30 points to Afghanistan in the ICC ODI Super League. however, they have already secured automatic qualification to the ODI World Cup in India in October by being one of the top eight ranked nations in the Super League.
Meanwhile, this is the second time Australia have cancelled a bilateral fixture with Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021.
Earlier they postponed the one-off Test against the side scheduled to be played in Hobart in November 2021, however, they did play Afghanistan in Adelaide during the last year’s T20 World Cup.
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