In response to criticism of CSA to boycott Afghanistan’s bilateral series due to the Taliban government’s treatment of women, the South Africa Sports Board has confirmed that they will continue to engage Afghanistan in the Bilateral series.
They believe that punishing the men’s team for the Taliban’s actions in their home country is not the right thing.
CSA’s statement comes in response to critics including from activist Organisation Lawyers for Human Rights, which said that by playing against Afghanistan, South Africa was endorsing a repressive regime and also called for CSA to boycott Afghanistan.
The Taliban government has not only banned women from playing sports but most areas of public life which the South African government has expressed concern about but did not call out for action.
In a statement issued by the sports body, “women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and success,” would not abandon Afghanistan’s men’s team for its country’s government policy.
“CSA remains mindful that gender equity should never come at the expense of one gender over another,” the statement said.
“We recognize that advocating for the advancement of one gender should not undermine the rights of the other. CSA believes there is no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players – both male and female – to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban.”
“We will continue to engage with member countries within the formal structures of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address this matter.”
CSA’s decision is also in line with the position of the ICC, which didn’t ban Afghanistan despite their being the full member nation without a women’s side.
The difficulty of forcing the ACB to field a women’s team is the risk it could take of retribution from the Taliban, which could put those women’s lives at risk.
Cricket Australia, on the other hand, has taken the opposite position and on advice from its government has refused to play Afghanistan bilaterally in protest against human rights abuses.
“Gender advocacy in cricket should never be advanced by meting out punishment on innocent cricket administrators and players for the misdemeanors of a regime that stands to lose nothing from that punishment,” its statement said.
“Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket prior to the Taliban’s ban on female participation in sports in August 2021”
South Africa has banned itself from 1970, as a global response to the Apartheid regime. South Africa admitted that after two decades questions over racial representation remain part of their reality.
When asked whether the banning of their representation remains part of their reality. When asked whether the banning of their organizations also punished administrators and players, an official said it was not effective in bringing the change.
“The apartheid government continued with its atrocious policies despite their athletes being banned from international sport. What truly broke the camel’s back were economic sanctions.”
CSA also argues that the situation at the ACB is slightly different as steps were being taken to have a women’s team prior to the Taliban takeover.
“Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket prior to the Taliban’s ban on female participation in sports in August 2021.”
South Africa and Afghanistan are currently playing in a three-match ODI series in the UAE. Afghanistan won the first match of the ODI series and the second match will be played on September 20 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
