Cricket Australia postpones Afghanistan Test until situation becomes ‘clearer’

Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in cricket in recent years has been the sport’s biggest fairytale but the strife-torn nation risks isolation following the country’s Taliban takeover. 

Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Friday (November 5) it had postponed the Afghanistan Test in Hobart scheduled for November 27 until the situation in Afghanistan becomes ‘clearer’. CA in September threatened to scrap the test if the Taliban government, which took power in August, did not allow women and girls to play the sport.

“Following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, Cricket Australia and the Afghanistan Cricket Board have agreed to postpone the inaugural men’s test match against Afghanistan,” CA said in a statement.

“CA is committed to support growing the game for women and men in Afghanistan and around the world, however, given the present uncertainty, CA felt it necessary to postpone the test match until a later time when the situation is clearer.”