SPORTS Minister Gayton McKenzie has thrown his weight behind calls for South Africa to boycott its ICC Champions Trophy fixture against Afghanistan, joining a growing chorus of international voices condemning the Taliban government’s clampdown on women’s rights.
His remarks come as several British politicians have urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to withdraw from their scheduled game against Afghanistan at the tournament in Pakistan next month.
England and South Africa are both drawn in the same group as Afghanistan, intensifying the debate over whether to engage with a nation under scrutiny for its human rights record.
“Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries and the ICC (International Cricket Council) will have to think carefully about the message the sport of cricket wishes to send the world, and especially to women in sports,” McKenzie said in a statement issued on Thursday.
While acknowledging that the decision ultimately lies with Cricket South Africa (CSA), the minister made his stance clear.
“It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” he added.
The Champions Trophy match between South Africa and Afghanistan is set to take place in Karachi on 21 February.
“As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, 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 said.
The call for action against Afghanistan’s inclusion in international cricket is gaining traction globally.
More than 160 British politicians recently signed a cross-party letter addressed to the ECB, demanding England boycott their match against Afghanistan in Lahore on 26 February.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould has since responded by calling for a coordinated and consistent approach from all member nations regarding Afghanistan’s participation.
Australia, another team in Afghanistan’s group, is also facing scrutiny.
The Australians are scheduled to play Afghanistan in Lahore on 28 February.
In March last year, Cricket Australia indefinitely postponed a bilateral Twenty20 series against Afghanistan, citing “deteriorating human rights for women and girls” under the Taliban regime.
Despite this stance, Australia faced Afghanistan at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India in late 2023 and during the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird defended his board’s position last month.
“We’ve taken a position, and we’re proudly standing up where we think we should,” he said, following accusations of hypocrisy over their inconsistent approach to playing Afghanistan.
As the Champions Trophy approaches, the pressure on cricketing bodies to take a firm stance on human rights issues is likely to intensify, with South Africa and England facing mounting calls to lead by example. – Sports Reporter