Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan has criticized Cricket Australia’s decision to pull out of the ODI series against Afghanistan. He has threatened to pull out of the Big Bash League, where he plays for the Adelaide Strikers, as a consequence of Cricket Australia’s decision. On Friday, the Australian board cited the Taliban’s stance on women and girls as their reason to pull out of the series.
In a statement released by Cricket Australia, they wrote, “The Australian men’s team will not play against Afghanistan in a scheduled three-match ODI series in the UAE in March, after recent announcements from the Taliban restricting the freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan.”
Reacting to Cricket Australia’s decision, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan shared a statement on Twitter, threatening to pull out of the Big Bash League. He wrote, “I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March. I take great pride in representing my country, and we have made great progress on the world stage.”
“This decision from CA sets us back in that journey. If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition,” added Rashid Khan.
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
Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq to pull out from BBL
After Cricket Australia’s announcement of pulling out of the Afghanistan series, Naveen-ul-Haq expressed that he won’t be participating in the Big Bash League. His decision to not participate in a mark of protest against Cricket Australia’s decision. Taking to Twitter, Naveen-ul-Haq termed Australia’s decision childish, and wrote,
“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 of being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA,” he tweeted.
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