"Is there issue of girls cricket or fear of defeats?"- Fans lash out at Cricket Australia for unceremoniously abandoning Afghanistan tour

Cricket Australia (CA) recently decided to forfeit the ODI series against Afghanistan in March after conferring with their government and the stakeholders. They cited the Taliban's recent announcement of imposing further restrictions on women's and girls' education and employment in Afghanistan as the primary reason behind their decision.

Since the series was part of the ICC ODI Super League, there were 30 points on offer during the series. With Australia withdrawing, Afghanistan will now bag all those points.

The multi-time world champions have already booked their spot in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, so losing these points wouldn't make a significant impact.

Cricket fans on Twitter were disappointed with Cricket Australia's decision. They called out the cricket board for their hypocritic decisions by pointing out that they did not have issues facing Afghanistan in T20 World Cup 2022, which was a must-win game for Australia to stay alive in the competition.

Here are some of the reactions:

Naveen ul haq Murid

@imnaveenulhaq

time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA

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time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA

JALALZAI

@TheLostJalalzai

Cricket is a sport, not politics. It gave some hope, and a reason to smile to a devastated nation #Afghans and now you snatch it away #Australia.
You have many other ways to push the Taliban without punishing the Afghan people that includes #women and #girls.
@ESPNcricinfo twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/s…

ESPNcricinfo

@ESPNcricinfo

Cricket Australia has announced that Australia's men's ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE in March will not go ahead, and that the board will "continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country"

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Cricket Australia has announced that Australia's men's ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE in March will not go ahead, and that the board will "continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country" https://t.co/hhVIsMC2vN

Cricket is a sport, not politics. It gave some hope, and a reason to smile to a devastated nation #Afghans and now you snatch it away #Australia.
You have many other ways to push the Taliban without punishing the Afghan people that includes #women and #girls.
@ESPNcricinfo twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/s…

Afghan Atalan

@AfghanAtalan1

Is there issue of girls Cricket or fear of defeats?

#Afghanistan has a hand on it to kick out #Australia from #T20WorldCup, and they don't take Afghanistan easy!

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Is there issue of girls Cricket or fear of defeats?

#Afghanistan has a hand on it to kick out #Australia from #T20WorldCup, and they don't take Afghanistan easy! https://t.co/ovgBgWFWJ0

Imran

@Imran32862576

@CricketAus Shame on Cricket Australia. Absolute hypocrisy. Australian soldiers were committing war crimes against Afghans. It is Afghanistan team that should have boycotted playing against Australia

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@CricketAus Shame on Cricket Australia. Absolute hypocrisy. Australian soldiers were committing war crimes against Afghans. It is Afghanistan team that should have boycotted playing against Australia

Anthony Permal

@_galactictony

Disgusting stuff from Cricket Australia.

These sporting bodies celebrate Iranian sports folks for having to live in a repressive country, but punish Afghan players as if they're also Taliban.

Shame on you. twitter.com/CricketAus/sta…

Cricket Australia

@CricketAus

Cricket Australia is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country.

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Cricket Australia is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country. https://t.co/cgQ2p21X2Q

Disgusting stuff from Cricket Australia.

These sporting bodies celebrate Iranian sports folks for having to live in a repressive country, but punish Afghan players as if they're also Taliban.

Shame on you. twitter.com/CricketAus/sta…

Aaditya Narayan

@AadityaN_28

Wonder if Cricket Australia will forfeit their match against Afghanistan at this year’s World Cup. Wonder if Cricket Australia will bar Rashid Khan and other Afghans from playing the #BBL. Because “ethical reasons” can’t just be the explanation for cancelling one series right?

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Wonder if Cricket Australia will forfeit their match against Afghanistan at this year’s World Cup. Wonder if Cricket Australia will bar Rashid Khan and other Afghans from playing the #BBL. Because “ethical reasons” can’t just be the explanation for cancelling one series right?

Nurispam

@Nurispam

Australia with another illogical decision. How will not playing with the Afghan team who have no responsibility in their government’s decisions help anyone? twitter.com/notanotheradi/…

adi ✨🇧🇩

@notanotheradi

They could have just donated the match fees to women’s organisations trying to make a difference like England donating to flood relief, but honestly? You just know this was an easy excuse for them to not play cricket against the Afghanistan team and to rest up for the Ashes/IPL. twitter.com/espncricinfo/s…

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They could have just donated the match fees to women’s organisations trying to make a difference like England donating to flood relief, but honestly? You just know this was an easy excuse for them to not play cricket against the Afghanistan team and to rest up for the Ashes/IPL. twitter.com/espncricinfo/s…

Australia with another illogical decision. How will not playing with the Afghan team who have no responsibility in their government’s decisions help anyone? twitter.com/notanotheradi/…

Hyder Mehsud

@ItsHyderKhan

Australia did the same what the Talibans govt wanted. If anything threatens the Taliban govt, it is the Afghans love for cricket. When you take cricket away from them, the Taliban will be strong, not weak.There is no connection of Cricket and Afghan govt decisions. @cricketcomau

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Australia did the same what the Talibans govt wanted. If anything threatens the Taliban govt, it is the Afghans love for cricket. When you take cricket away from them, the Taliban will be strong, not weak.There is no connection of Cricket and Afghan govt decisions. @cricketcomau

Muddy

@muddasser6

@CricketAus Sandpapergate team morally policing world cricket. Should lose points in the super league table for forfeiting the series as there are no security concerns.

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@CricketAus Sandpapergate team morally policing world cricket. Should lose points in the super league table for forfeiting the series as there are no security concerns.

Uzair Kundi

@SingleWidNoKids

@CricketAus They banned the education and you expect that they'll make a cricket team of women
Nice joke

@CricketAus They banned the education and you expect that they'll make a cricket team of women
Nice joke

Spolitix

@WorimiFella

@CricketAus So, Afghanistan cricket basically suffers further as a result? Noble intentions yes, but not the way to make your point.

@CricketAus So, Afghanistan cricket basically suffers further as a result? Noble intentions yes, but not the way to make your point.

Fog

@Fog_House_

@CricketAus Any excuse not to play a minnow nation.

@CricketAus Any excuse not to play a minnow nation.

Zia Afghan

@ziasayzz

Just at a time when Afghanistan's global representation has still been a deadlock, the international community is rightly justifying thier unilateral decisions of cutting thier cricketing ties despite ABC have got ICC support.

#Afghanistan
#australia

Just at a time when Afghanistan's global representation has still been a deadlock, the international community is rightly justifying thier unilateral decisions of cutting thier cricketing ties despite ABC have got ICC support.

#Afghanistan
#australia

Afghan Atalan

@AfghanAtalan1

@CricketAus When our people are suffering from so many sadness, un-wanted situition, Bans ...
how will this decision helo them, and tell that no one in Afghanistan is happy with the situition and its the result of US and NATO so called democracy and freedom

Which Australia was part of it

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@CricketAus When our people are suffering from so many sadness, un-wanted situition, Bans ...
how will this decision helo them, and tell that no one in Afghanistan is happy with the situition and its the result of US and NATO so called democracy and freedom❗

Which Australia was part of it

🇦🇫Hikmat Khan🇦🇫

@HikmatK81939960

@CricketAus Sports should not be linked with any religion or politics. Learn from India
Cheetar Australia

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@CricketAus Sports should not be linked with any religion or politics. Learn from India ♥️
Cheetar Australia 😡

z.

@zarnnj

@CricketAus Oh yes becaus the taliban are gonna see this insanely cute gesture and be like “ah actually u are right cricket Australia” and make a difference dfkm

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@CricketAus Oh yes becaus the taliban are gonna see this insanely cute gesture and be like “ah actually u are right cricket Australia😢” and make a difference dfkm😭

K H A N

@khan_PTI007

@CricketAus it is a bad decision, on the one side you support women's cricket in Afghanistan and another hand you canceled the men's tour. very bad decision.

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@CricketAus it is a bad decision, on the one side you support women's cricket in Afghanistan and another hand you canceled the men's tour. very bad decision.

Ferar Unus et Idem

@FloreatPica3066

@CricketAus Convenient excuse. That series was NEVER going ahead as the players hate playing tours against minnow nations.

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@CricketAus Convenient excuse. That series was NEVER going ahead as the players hate playing tours against minnow nations.

Ajay Dhami

@Ajay777Dhami

@CricketAus What about Australia and england crimes in Afghanistan and the Middle East? So everyone should boycott england and Australia? 🤔 When 2 points mattered in wc, there was no issue to play them and now everything matters all of sudden 🤔

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@CricketAus What about Australia and england crimes in Afghanistan and the Middle East? So everyone should boycott england and Australia? 🤔 When 2 points mattered in wc, there was no issue to play them and now everything matters all of sudden 🤔

NavdeepSGusain

@NavdeepSGusain1

@CricketAus So you are supporting Afghanistan by not playing with Afghanistan.
That's weird.

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@CricketAus So you are supporting Afghanistan by not playing with Afghanistan.
That's weird.

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"CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world"- Cricket Australia

After considering the unfair treatment of the reigning Afghanistan government towards women, Cricket Australia decided to withdraw their ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in March.

In an official statement, they explained their rigid stance on the matter. CA also opened up that they will be in touch with the Afghanistan Cricket Board anticipating a better tomorrow for the females in the country. The statement read:

"CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country. We thank the Australian Government for its support on this matter.

"Our board has been monitoring progress since the change of regime. It is a concern that progress is not being made in Afghanistan and it's something our board will consider at its next meeting in March. As far as we are aware, there isn't activity at the moment.

cricket.com.au

@cricketcomau

JUST IN: Australia’s ODI series against Afghanistan in March will not go ahead.

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JUST IN: Australia’s ODI series against Afghanistan in March will not go ahead.

Do you think CA made the right decision? Sound off your opinions in the comments section.

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