New Delhi: South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has requested his team to boycott the Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan on February 21.
He said that if it was up to him to make the final decision whether South Africa will face Afghanistan then it certainly would not happen. His remarks came because of the Taliban government’s ban on women’s sports and their decision to disband Afghanistan’s women’s team.
“As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world” McKenzie said. He further added that Cricket South Africa, ICC and other cricketing boards need to think carefully about the message they wish to send to the world through the sport.
Meanwhile, nearly 160 UK politicians have signed a letter requesting the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott their match against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26. ECB chief executive Richard Gould emphasized the need for a collective effort from all international cricketing nations regarding Afghanistan’s participation in the tournament.
‘The position on Afghanistan must be guided by ICC’: Cricket South Africa
In reply, CSA released an official statement and said that the board believe that women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and respect. But ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a global event and a call on the matters will be taken by the global cricketing body.
“The treatment and suppression of women’s rights in Afghanistan abhorrent and firmly believes that women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and resources, an area in which CSA’s record on women’s cricket in South Africa speaks for itself” said CSA in a statement.
“As the Champions Trophy is an ICC event, the position on Afghanistan must be guided by the world body in accordance with international tournament participation requirements and regulations”.
South Africa sports minister Gayton McKenzie has called the team to boycott the match against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
