New Zealand Cricket to Play Afghanistan Test Despite Australia's Boycott

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced that they will proceed with a one-off Test match against Afghanistan in September, despite Cricket Australia's decision to cancel their scheduled series against Afghanistan due to concerns over the deteriorating human rights situation for women and girls in the Taliban-ruled country. The decision was made after discussions at the board level and with the players' association, with the consensus being that a boycott would not change anything in Afghanistan, and that it would be more constructive to keep dialogue and participation channels open while continuing to advocate for change.

NZC's Public Affairs Manager, Richard Boock, emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue and advocating for change in Afghanistan. "NZC strongly believes that cricket is a game for everyone and would like to see greater support for the women's game in Afghanistan in the short to medium term," Boock said. The upcoming Test match will be the first time New Zealand has played Afghanistan outside of international tournaments.

Why this matters: The decision by New Zealand Cricket to proceed with the Test match against Afghanistan highlights the differing approaches taken by cricketing nations in response to the human rights concerns in Afghanistan. It also underscores the potential for sports to serve as a platform for dialogue and advocacy, even in the face of political and social challenges.

The venue for the New Zealand-Afghanistan Test has not been revealed yet, but there are speculations it might take place in the UAE. New Zealand are also scheduled to face Afghanistan in their opening match of the T20 World Cup in June. Australia has backed out of scheduled matches with Afghanistan on three different occasions in recent years, citing the advice from the Australian government about the deteriorating conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan.

Despite the challenges women face in accessing the sport in Afghanistan, cricket has gained popularity in the country, and they currently play their 'home' fixtures at neutral venues. New Zealand Cricket expressed their commitment to promoting inclusivity in cricket and urged for greater support for women's cricket in Afghanistan in the near future. The T20 World Cup in 2024 does not feature a match between Afghanistan and Australia in the group stages, indicating Australia's continued stance on the issue.

Key Takeaways

• NZC to proceed with Afghanistan Test despite CA's boycott over human rights concerns.
• NZC believes dialogue and participation can advocate for change in Afghanistan.
• This will be NZ's first Test against Afghanistan outside of international tournaments.
• Australia has backed out of matches with Afghanistan citing deteriorating conditions for women.
• NZC committed to promoting inclusivity, urges greater support for women's cricket in Afghanistan.