ACB reiterates stance of politics-free cricket after Australia postpone T20I series

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has expressed disappointment over Cricket Australia's decision to postpone the three-match T20I series, reiterating their stance on neutral and politics-free cricket across the globe. The fixtures were scheduled for August this year.

While the ACB advocated for keeping cricket distinct from political influence, it acknowledged the governmental pressure on their counterparts, CA. The ACB pressed on the importance of addressing the matter through "collaborative efforts between the two cricket boards".

"ACB acknowledges the pressures faced by Cricket Australia from the Australian Government, and emphasizes on the importance of addressing such issues through collaborative efforts between the two cricket boards. The ACB also urges the Australian government not to impose its policies on cricket boards and instead focus on supporting the development of cricket across regions," an ACB release said.

Also read: CA postpones home series against Afghanistan citing human rights concerns

The ACB top brass had previously negotiated with Cricket Australia to explore alternative solutions instead of straightforward withdrawals. Notably, the three-match T20I series, which was a part of Afghanistan's 2023-27 FTP, was approved by the ICC in the presence of the CA delegation. At that time, the delegation had agreed to the fixtures.

This is not the first instance when a bilateral event involving the two nations has fallen apart. Previously, the CA announced their withdrawal from a one-off Test match against Afghanistan in 2021 and also denied to play a three-match ODI series in March 2023. The recent one makes it a third withdrawal after the confirmation of fixtures.

"ACB urges Cricket Australia to respect and understand its position as a Full Member nation and look for alternative solutions rather than succumbing to external pressures and/or political influences. The Afghanistan Cricket Board remains committed to negotiating with the International Cricket Council, Cricket Australia, & other full member countries and adhering to ICC principles to ensure cricket remains free from political influence and supported by all parties involved," the statement added.