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Cricket South Africa Responds To Afghanistan Boycott Appeal For Champions Trophy 2025

Akshita Patel∙ Updated: Jan 9 2025, 11:06 PM

CSA reacts to British parliament calling for boycotting Afghanistan in Champions Trophy [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/X.com]CSA reacts to British parliament calling for boycotting Afghanistan in Champions Trophy [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/X.com]

Amid a stern call to boycott Afghanistan in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, Cricket South Africa issued a statement demanding the intervention of the ICC. Even as the board opposed the oppression of women in Afghanistan, the president, Rihan Richards, remains firm that the ICC must intervene.

Afghanistan is standing at the brink of disaster just before the beginning of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has taken away the rights of women, especially their participation in cricket, which has received a lot of criticism all over the world.

In the near past, some MPs of British Parliament have adopted an unanimous resolution calling upon England, Australia, and South Africa to boycott their 2025 Champions Trophy match with Afghanistan.

CSA calls for ICC's intervention amid standoff against Afghanistan

Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa issued a statement on the subject, strongly denouncing the Taliban government's imposition of restrictions on women. Rihan Richards, CSA President reiterated his board's stand for gender parity in cricket throughout the world.

However, despite being aware of the seriousness of the situation in Afghanistan, CSA claims that the ICC should take a leading role to address the matter. Richards said that CSA is also committed to the cause of women's cricket and will engage with the ICC and other cricketing nations to look for a meaningful solution, which will promote women's participation in Afghanistan.

Although CSA would not say anything on the issue personally, the England and Wales Cricket Board recently said that it wouldn't schedule bilateral matches against Afghanistan until there is progress on promoting women's cricket in the country. This decision adds to the growing international pressure on Afghanistan's cricket authorities. 

Thus, with the next 2025 Champions Trophy beckoning, there's much in the debate that still awaits a decent solution from the ICC.