South Africa's Sports Minister Calls for Proteas to Withdraw from Champions Trophy Match with Afghanistan
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New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie has called on the Proteas to withdraw from their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan because of the Taliban regime's ban on women's sports and the dissolution of the women's cricket team since they regained control in 2021.
The South African team, led by Temba Bavuma, will kick off their 2025 Champions Trophy journey with a Group B match against Afghanistan at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan, on February 21. The teams will compete in Group B alongside England and Australia.
McKenzie stated, "To be clear, the ICC has acknowledged the principle of equality in sports, emphasizing that member nations should foster both male and female athletes. This is not the case with Afghanistan, indicating a tolerance for political interference in sports management there. In 2023, Sri Lanka faced a ban for similar political meddling."
"I understand that the ICC, like many international sports organizations, claims to reject political interference in sports governance, despite the clear contradiction concerning Afghanistan. It is not my role as Sports Minister to make the ultimate call on whether South Africa should fulfill its cricketing obligations against Afghanistan."
"If it were up to me, I would unequivocally oppose it. Coming from a background that faced restrictions on equal sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be both hypocritical and immoral for me to ignore the current situation affecting women globally."
"Cricket South Africa, along with other national federations and the ICC, must carefully consider the message they wish to convey to the world, particularly to women in sports. I hope all involved in cricket—supporters, players, and officials—will unite in standing with the women of Afghanistan," McKenzie expressed in a statement on his 'X' account on Thursday.
Earlier, a letter from Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, endorsed by nearly 160 UK parliament members, urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott their match against Afghanistan, scheduled for February 26 in Lahore.
Despite ECB chair Richard Gould dismissing the boycott requests, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the ICC to enforce its own regulations, which mandate suspension for any full member that fails to field both men's and women's teams in international competitions.
