Cricket Scotland suspends Afghanistan ties outside ICC events
Scotland will meet Afghanistan only at ICC tournaments, citing women's rights and human rights concerns.
Cricket Scotland has suspended bilateral cricket with Afghanistan outside ICC events, citing the treatment of women and girls and wider human rights concerns. The policy will be reviewed annually or after a significant ICC decision or material change in circumstances.
Key takeaways
- Cricket Scotland will not host or play Afghanistan outside ICC events
- Scotland has not played Afghanistan in a full international since the 2021 T20 World Cup
- The policy follows similar decisions by Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board
- Afghanistan requested training facilities in Scotland in July and September
- The decision will be reviewed annually or after significant ICC decisions or material changes
Cricket Scotland has suspended cricketing engagement with Afghanistan outside International Cricket Council (ICC) events, the governing body announced on Monday, November 9. The decision means Scotland will not host or take part in pre-tour training camps, practice matches or warm-up fixtures involving Afghanistan's men's team outside ICC events. Cricket Scotland will continue to participate in fixtures against Afghanistan at ICC events where competition regulations require them.
Why it matters
Scotland has not faced Afghanistan in a full international match since the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup, according to Sportstar. Afghanistan became an ICC Full Member in 2017, Sportstar reported. Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board have already suspended bilateral ties with Afghanistan, Sportstar said. Cricket Scotland's move aligns with those decisions, according to Tribune.
Cricket Scotland said its statement commits the body to growing women's and girls' participation in the sport and to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Tribune reported. Women's sport has effectively disappeared in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Sportstar said, while access to education and employment for women has been severely curtailed.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board requested training facilities in Scotland in July ahead of its men's series against Ireland, Sportstar reported. The ACB made another request in September regarding the T20 Afghanistan Premier League, Tribune said. Cricket Scotland will continue to consider its contractual obligations to players and will issue no-objection certificates if the ICC gives the Afghan league official approval, Tribune reported.
Cricket Scotland will not proactively schedule bilateral series or participate in tri-series involving Afghanistan Men unless there is a material change in the circumstances surrounding Afghanistan women's cricket and wider human rights considerations, Sportstar said.
What happens next
The Afghanistan policy will be kept under review annually or following any significant ICC decision or material change in circumstances, Tribune said. Cricket Scotland has not scheduled any bilateral series with Afghanistan.
By the numbers
2017: year Afghanistan became an ICC Full Member, according to Sportstar
2021: year of the last full international between Scotland and Afghanistan, at the T20 World Cup, according to Sportstar
2021: year the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, according to Sportstar
1: number of ICC member boards named alongside Cricket Scotland as suspending bilateral ties, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board, according to Sportstar
Related on Apex Sports News
Cricket Scotland limits Afghanistan ties over women's rights
Cricket Australia rejects new Sandpapergate probe after Khawaja book
Sources
Topics
Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or use the flag button above. Our editorial standards explain how we report.
Related stories
Discussion
Sign in or create a free account to join the discussion. Please follow our community guidelines.