South Africa sports minister Gayton McKenzie urged the Proteas to boycott their Champions Trophy 2025 opener clash against Afghanistan which is scheduled to take place on February 21 at National Stadium in Karachi. The reason behind this request is the Taliban government’s ban on women’s sports and their decision to disband Afghanistan’s women’s team.
“It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honor cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” McKenzie said. “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,” he added.
Before South Africa, England politicians also mounted pressure on their government to boycott England’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26 citing the same issues.
However, As per Indian Express ICC chairman Jay Shah is of the view that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is merely following the orders of the Taliban regime which has been in power since 2021 and is powerless to act on its own to revive the women’s game in the country. But historically, the world body has not come in the way of teams forfeiting matches in a global tournament due to security or any other concerns.
What happens if England and South Africa boycott their Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan?
If South Africa and England deny to play against Afghanistan then the latter will be awarded full points. As per the rules, the tournament code grants a team the liberty to play or not play a game. But not playing carries a cost: if England skips the Afghanistan game, the latter will be awarded full points.
Earlier in 1996 when Australia and West Indies denied travelling to Sri Lanka for the 1996 World Cup citing security concerns, the co-hosts were awarded four points.
Comentários