Sydney
CNN
—
Australia’s men’s cricket team has decided to withdraw from a series of upcoming matches against Afghanistan. This decision comes as a protest against the restrictions imposed on women and girls’ education and employment by the ruling Taliban, as stated by Cricket Australia (CA) on Thursday.
The scheduled series of three One Day International (ODI) games in the United Arab Emirates in March has been canceled by CA after thorough consultations with various stakeholders, including the Australian government.
CA expressed its commitment to supporting and promoting the game for both men and women globally, including in Afghanistan. The organization will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in hopes of improved conditions for women and girls in the country.
The United Nations and several major foreign aid groups have temporarily suspended their operations in Afghanistan in response to the ban on female NGO employees, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by women in the country.
