Cricket Scotland Suspends Bilateral Ties With Afghanistan
Cricket Scotland has announced it will not play matches against Afghanistan outside International Cricket Council (ICC) competitions, citing Taliban restrictions on women's rights and concerns over human rights in Afghanistan.
Under the decision, the two teams will only be able to face each other in official competitions organised under the International Cricket Council.
Cricket Scotland said on Monday that the decision was driven by concerns over the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and the restrictions imposed on their lives since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, women and girls have been barred from participating in sporting competitions, while their access to education and employment opportunities has also been severely restricted.
In response to such criticism, the Taliban maintain that they respect women's rights in accordance with Islamic Sharia and that Afghanistan's internal affairs should be resolved within the country.
Scotland's decision follows similar moves by Australia and England, which have previously suspended bilateral ties with Afghanistan. Afghanistan became a full member of the International Cricket Council in 2017.
Cricket Scotland said it would review the policy annually, or following any significant decision by the ICC or a substantial change in the situation in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has not yet commented on the decision. Scotland's national cricket team has not faced Afghanistan in an official international match since the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Cricket Scotland said the Afghanistan Cricket Board had requested access to training facilities in Scotland in July, ahead of the Afghan men's national team's series against Ireland.
According to the Scottish federation, the Afghanistan Cricket Board submitted another request in September to use training facilities in Scotland in connection with the Afghanistan T20 Premier League.
