Australia on Friday postponed its first-ever cricket Test against Afghanistan, after the country’s ruling Taliban regime effectively banned women from playing the sport.
Australia’s cricketing authorities said that after consultation with “relevant stakeholders” they decided the men’s Test, to be played in Hobart this month, would not go ahead as planned.
After the Taliban ousted Afghanistan’s elected government in August, senior leaders said Afghan women would no longer play cricket, or any other sport.
Under the regime’s hardline reading of Islamic law, women are also barred from going to school and from most other public roles.
Senior Australian cricketers had indicated they would like to see the Test cancelled if the de facto ban on women's cricket remained in place.
Afghanistan’s men are currently playing in the T20 World Cup, offering fans in the conflict-plagued country brief respite from woes at home, notching victories against Namibia and Scotland.
But Kabul has been warned it faces an international ban if it fails to field a side at the upcoming women's World Cup in New Zealand.
- ‘It’s disappointing’ -
In a statement, 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.”
Afghan players are expected to be allowed to play in the upcoming Big Bash League season in Australia.
