On January 12, 2023, Australia opted out of their three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after “consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Australian government.” They cited “recent announcements from the Taliban restricting the freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan” as a reason, with the education ban the immediate context for the decision. Several Afghanistan players, including Rashid Khan, spoke out against the education ban, but also criticised CA’s decision to pull out of the ODI series, threatening their own boycott of the Big Bash League in response.

Australia and Afghanistan are set to face off in the World Cup tomorrow (November 7), with reports in the Australian media pointing to the ICC as barring Australia from any boycott. However, Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has pointed out the double standards in an Instagram story: “Refusing to play the bilateral series Now It will be interesting to see cricket Australia stand in the World Cup #standrads (sic) #humanrights #Or 2 points”.

Australia’s stance on playing cricket against Afghanistan has oscillated since the Taliban’s takeover of the country in August 2021. Cricket Australia postponed their first ever Test match against Afghanistan, scheduled at Hobart that November. However, when Australia hosted the T20 World Cup in 2022, they had no qualms playing their group stage match against Afghanistan.

There have been World Cup boycotts on political grounds in the past. When New Zealand had invited a rugby side from apartheid South Africa to tour the country, the West Indies refused to send a team there for the 1982 Women’s World Cup. England also gave a walkover to Zimbabwe at the 2003 World Cup, a decision that cost them a Super Sixes berth.

Australia had themselves conceded two points to Sri Lanka in 1996, as had the West Indies, though they cited security reasons. New Zealand’s walkover to Kenya in 2003, for similar reasons, resulted in the latter making a charge to the semi-finals at that event.

“We obviously played against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup at home recently, and we’re playing tomorrow,” said Steve Smith. “So, it’s not a question for me, it’s far above my pay grade.”

The match is a crucial one in the World Cup semi-finals race, with Afghanistan two points behind Australia in the table. The games Australia have forfeited have not affected their competitive prospects, with the 2021 Test not part of the World Test Championship, and the 2023 ODI series coming with both sides already qualified for the World Cup.

“I think, right now, we have game tomorrow in the World Cup,” said Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. “If we focus on that instead of these things, it will be better.”

The lack of women’s cricket played in Afghanistan has long been a stain on the sport. When the ICC granted Afghanistan Full Membership in 2017, they ignored their own stipulation that Full Members should have a women’s cricket structure in the country. While there were some developments in women’s cricket in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover, Hamid Shinwari, the CEO of the Afghan Cricket Board, told the BBC that he expected “women’s cricket to be stopped” shortly after the events of August 2021.

Some of Afghanistan’s women’s cricketers were forced to flee the country in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. Speaking to Wisden Cricket Monthly, Feroza Afghan spoke of a lack of support felt from the Afghanistan men’s team, but also said she did not wish for there to be a boycott. “We don’t want for the men’s team ever to be banned or not play,” she said. “But we want them to support us and stand with us because it’s our right to play cricket. I think they’re feeling what we’re feeling for the first time.”