Australia were scheduled to play a T20I series against Afghanistan later this year, but, much like their scheduled ODI series in March 2023, this has also been postponed on the basis of worsening human rights for women in Afghanistan.

The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and have taken multiple steps limiting the freedom of women in the country including putting a ban on their education.

ODI series in March 2023 postponed

Australia, who were supposed to play Afghanistan in a bilateral ODI series in March 2023, pulled out due to the political situation in the country, citing “recent announcements from the Taliban restricting the freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan”.

Their decision had evoked extreme reactions with several Afghan players including Rashid Khan threatening to boycott the Big Bash League. That ODI series hasn’t taken place yet, but Australia did play Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup in what turned out to be a memorable encounter on the field.

Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus @BBL @ACBofficials ♥️ 🇦🇫 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZPpvOBetPJ

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 12, 2023

Questions were again raised with respect to Australia’s decision to pull out of bilateral commitments but not doing so at world events against Afghanistan.

T20I series in August 2024 postponed

And now, they have announced the indefinite postponement of another scheduled bilateral series against them.

In a statement released today (March 19), CA said that based on their consultations with the Australian government over the last one year, the conditions for women in Afghanistan has worsened, leading to them having to postpone the T20I series.

An update to our Aussie men's team schedule ⬇️

CA will continue its commitment to the participation of women and girls cricket around the world and will work closely with the ICC and the Afghanistan Cricket Board to resume bilateral matches in the future. pic.twitter.com/OIO5PLjle5

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) March 19, 2024

“Over the past twelve months CA has continued to consult with the Australian Government on the situation in Afghanistan,” the statement read. “The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse. For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan.

“CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the International Cricket Council and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future.

“We again thank the Australian Government for its support.”

So far, Australia and Afghanistan have played only one bilateral game – an ODI in 2012 in Sharjah that Australia won by 66 runs.