Australia today announced postponement of its maiden cricket test match with Afghanistan. Australia said Afghanistan has imposed ban on women in participating in sports, which was a violation of human rights..
Australian authorities today said the inaugural men’s Test match that was to be played in Hobart city of Australia this month, would not go ahead as planned.
Meanwhile, veteran and senior cricketers in Australia also endorsed their government’s policy of supporting women to take part in sports everywhere.
Cricket Australia said it was committed to support growing the game for women and men in Afghanistan and around the world.
“Given the present uncertainty, (Cricket Australia) felt it necessary to postpone the Test match until a later time when the situation is clearer,” CA added.
It said it looked forward to “hosting both the Afghanistan women’s and men’s team in the not too distant future”.
The loss of the Afghan Test scheduled for November 27 creates a void in Australia’s Ashes build-up, which will be filled by an “internal three-day match opportunity” between the extended squad from December 1 in Brisbane.
“The squad will be selected and announced in mid-November,” Cricket Australia said, adding that England would also play a three-day warm-up match against the England Lions.
The decision followed a report by Australian broadcaster SBS which quoted a Taliban representative as saying cricket was “not necessary” for women. Australia’s Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said at the time the Taliban’s position was “deeply concerning”.
