South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has voiced his strong opposition to Afghanistan’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, calling attention to the Taliban regime’s mistreatment of women.
McKenzie’s remarks have intensified the growing political pressure surrounding the tournament, with South Africa set to face Afghanistan in their opening match on February 21 in Karachi.
In a statement released by the South African Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Culture, McKenzie drew a direct comparison between the Taliban’s oppressive policies toward women and the Apartheid-era discrimination he himself experienced. He argued that turning a blind eye to Afghanistan’s policies would be “hypocritical and immoral.”
“If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” McKenzie declared, adding that, as someone who had been denied equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, he could not ignore the systemic injustice currently being faced by women in Afghanistan. “It would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.”
McKenzie’s comments come in the wake of increased political pressure on Afghanistan’s involvement in the Champions Trophy. Earlier this week, 160 British politicians wrote to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), urging them to boycott their February 26 fixture against Afghanistan in Lahore due to the ban on women’s and girls’ cricket under Taliban rule.
The ICC has responded to the controversy, with a spokesperson emphasizing that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) should not be held accountable for the policies imposed by the country’s government.
“The ICC will not penalize the ACB, or its players, for abiding by the laws set by the government of their country,” the spokesperson stated. “We will continue to constructively use our influence to assist the ACB in developing cricket and playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan.”
Despite the controversy, both the ECB and Cricket Australia, the other two teams in Group B of the Champions Trophy, have refused to engage Afghanistan in a bilateral series.
In September, CSA engaged Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series in the UAE, making it clear that they would continue to schedule bilateral fixtures as long as they did not discriminate against Afghan players.
At that time, CSA emphasized that the players, both male and female, should not be subjected to “secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban.”