Cricket Australia defends Afghanistan boycott after hypocrisy accusation
Al Jazeera
Australian cricket chief ‘proud’ of decision to cancel bilateral series after outgoing ICC chair questions ‘principles’.
Australia’s top cricket official has defended his country’s decision to play against Afghanistan at the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cups while cancelling all bilateral series against the South Asian side due to the Taliban’s crackdown on women’s sport.
Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Mike Baird said on Thursday he was “very proud of the position we’ve taken” after the departing boss of the ICC accused them of hypocrisy.
“We’ve taken a position, and we’re proudly standing up where we think we should,” Baird said.
“There’s all types of lines you can draw. We’ve drawn a line.”
Former ICC chairman Greg Barclay said Australia should have walked away from World Cup games against Afghanistan if they wanted to take a stand against the Taliban’s clampdown on women’s rights.
