Hockley Sees Afghanistan Women's Match as a Symbol of Hope

Synopsis

Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, views the exhibition match featuring the Afghanistan women's team as a significant milestone for women's rights in the country, aiming to raise awareness and inspire future opportunities in cricket.

Key Takeaways

Hockley calls the match a beacon of hope for Afghan women.
The Afghanistan women's team is now based in Australia.
There are future match opportunities being discussed with the ECB.
Hockley emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about women's rights.
Australia's participation in ICC events continues despite human rights concerns.

New Delhi, Jan 27 (NationPress) Nick Hockley, the chief executive of Cricket Australia (CA), is optimistic that the exhibition match featuring the Afghanistan women's team in Melbourne serves as a genuine beacon of hope for the country's women.

The Afghanistan women's cricket team, now based in Melbourne and Canberra following the Taliban's takeover, is scheduled to play a T20 match against a Cricket Without Borders XI at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Thursday morning.

This match precedes the day-night Women’s Ashes Test that will take place at the MCG later that afternoon.

Hockley also mentioned that the England and Wales Cricket Board is interested in hosting matches for the Afghanistan women’s team in the future.

"I view this as a crucial first step. Colleagues from the ECB are coming out for the women's Ashes, and discussions are underway to provide support from both England and Australia. The initial goal is to raise awareness.

"Thursday is going to be such an exciting day, and I hope it sparks numerous conversations, making this an annual event, with the ultimate aim of allowing this team to compete on the international stage, which they aspire to do.

"None of us can fully grasp the challenges they've faced moving to a new country under such difficult circumstances, particularly without a command of the language. I am truly inspired by their resilience and passion for the game, and I hope this match raises awareness and serves as a real beacon of hope," Hockley told reporters on Monday.

Hockley reflected on a moment when he witnessed the Afghanistan women’s team receiving their jerseys. "I had the privilege of seeing their playing shirts for the first time, complete with their names and numbers on the back, and the significance of that moment was palpable.

“I sincerely hope this marks the beginning of a successful journey for this group, and that this match highlights the reality that in many parts of the world, not every woman and girl has the opportunity to play.

"To date, Australia has not participated in bilateral matches against Afghanistan since their decision last year, citing the deteriorating human rights situation for women and girls under Taliban rule.

However, Australia has faced criticism for competing against Afghanistan in ICC tournaments.

Responding to this, Hockley stated that they are obligated to compete against Afghanistan in global events. "We are required, under the terms of ICC arrangements, to play all scheduled fixtures, so we focus on what is within our control.

"We have faced Afghanistan in other ICC events, and we've been transparent and consistent from the start. A line must be drawn, and we believe our position is clear.

“This is a complex issue; it transcends cricket. But hopefully, this week, you will see us taking actions within our control to make a positive impact."