The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has urged South African cricket to consider boycotting their ICC Champions Trophy match against the Afghanistan men’s cricket team next month, reports Cape {town} Etc.
There have been calls for the ICC to ban Afghanistan due to their failure to field a women’s team following the return to power of the Taliban in 2021.
The teams are scheduled to meet at the Champions Trophy in Karachi on 21 February.
Australia has refused to play against the Afghanistan men’s team outside of ICC events.
‘Public calls have been escalating for the Proteas cricket team to boycott their ICC Champions Trophy match against the Afghanistan men’s cricket team next month,’ said McKenzie in a statement on Thursday.
‘This, on the basis that the Taliban government in Afghanistan banned women’s sport and disbanded the female cricket team when they came to power in 2021.’
‘As the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, this is a position that I feel morally bound to support, despite the deep complications of Afghanistan’s recent and tragic history.’
McKenzie notes that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has accepted the principle of equality in sport and that member nations should be developing both male and female players.
‘This does not happen in the case of Afghanistan, suggesting that political interference in the administration of sport is being tolerated there.’
‘In the same breath, Sri Lanka was banned in 2023 for political interference,’ adds McKenzie.
‘I am aware that the ICC, like most international sporting mother bodies, professes not to tolerate political interference in the administration of sport, despite its obvious inconsistency with Afghanistan.’
‘It is not for me as the Sports Minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan.’
‘If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,’ says McKenzie.
‘As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.’
McKenzie says that Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries, and the ICC will have to ‘think carefully’ about the message the sport of cricket wishes to send the world.
‘I hope that the consciences of all those involved in cricket, including the supporters, players and administrators, will take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan.’
The Proteas beat Afghanistan in the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup before suffering a 2-1 ODI series defeat to them in the UAE.
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Picture: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo
