Cricket Australia confirms postponement of one-off Test against Afghanistan

CA decided to postpone the game over the status of women's cricket in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan were due to tour Australia for one-off Test | TwitterCricket Australia (CA) on Friday (November 5) confirmed its decision to postpone the solitary Test against Afghanistan scheduled for November 27 in Hobart until the situation in Afghanistan becomes "clearer".

Afghanistan were due to tour Down Under in November 2021 to play the one-off Test match. This would have been their maiden longest format match against Australia.

Originally, the Test match was slated to take place in November 2020 but the global COVID-19 pandemic had forced Cricket Australia to cancel it.

Last month, CA had said that it was set to postpone the match due to concerns over the status of women's cricket in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country.

"Following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, Cricket Australia and the Afghanistan Cricket Board have agreed to postpone the inaugural men’s test match against Afghanistan," CA said in a statement.

"CA is committed to support growing the game for women and men in Afghanistan and around the world, however, given the present uncertainty, CA felt it necessary to postpone the test match until a later time when the situation is clearer."

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has urged other full member nations to support them as it looks to retain its place in global cricket.

Afghanistan's status is set to be discussed at an ICC meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing T20 World Cup in UAE.

Taliban had not allowed any forms of entertainment, including sports, during their first stint in power, before they were ousted in 2001. However, this time ACB officials categorically said that cricket was supported by the Taliban.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 05 Nov, 2021

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