• Afghanistan cricket fraternity came up with strong reactions after Australia cancelled their ODI series.

  • The three-match leg was scheduled to take place in UAE in March.

Afghanistan players express anger over Cricket Australia’s decision to cancel their ODI series
Afghanistan cricketers condemn Australia's decision of canceling ODI series (Image Source: Twitter)

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Strong reactions have come from Afghanistan players and the country’s cricket board following Cricket Australia’s decision to abandon the One-Day International (ODI) series, which was slated to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March.

CA cited recent restrictions on women’s rights to education and participation in sports in Afghanistan by the Taliban government for withdrawing from the three-match ODI leg. Not to mention, Afghanistan is the only ICC full-member nation without a women’s team and a side at the upcoming inaugural Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, starting on Saturday.

One of Afghanistan’s biggest cricket icon Rashid Khan expressed his disappointment over the whole turn of events and threatened to pull out of Big Bash League (BBL). Notably, Rashid is part of Adelaide Strikers in BBL and represented them in eight matches this season before leaving to play for MI Cape Town in the SA20 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.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,” said Rashid in a statement on Twitter.

Another Afghanistan legend Mohammad Nabi echoed Rashid’s views and condemned Australia’s stance. He urged the Aussies, ICC and rest of the world to support Afghanistan in the challenging moments.

“I strongly condemned the decision of @CricketAus by pulling of the series and playing with us, through Cricket, we have shown the world if right opportunity & Platform given to Afghans we are no less then the rest of the world. Let’s separate sports & politics. Afghan Cricketers are the role models of the modern era and proud ambassadors of the Cricketing fraternity. I urge CA, ICC and the rest of the world to be a support in these challenging moments with Afghanistan. Let’s aim to control the controlables and manage the distraction,” wrote Nabi in his statement.

Here is how other Afghanistan cricketers reacted:

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CATEGORY: Afghanistan Twitter Reactions

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