Afghanistan’s several top international cricketers, including star spinner Rashid Khan has hit back at Cricket Australia’s decision to postpone a scheduled T20I series with Afghanistan due to “a marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls” in the country.

This is the third such incident involving a series between the two nations after Australia had in 2021 postponed a proposed Test against Afghanistan, and then in January 2023, postponed an ODI series against Afghanistan scheduled in March due to similar issues.

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Hitting out at Cricket Australia’s decision to postpone the proposed three-match T20I series to be played at a neutral venue, Afghanistan’s T20I skipper Rashid Khan threatened to reconsider his participation in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and urged the cricket boards of both the countries to keep the sport away from politics.

“I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March. I take great pride in representing my country, and we have made great progress on the world stage.This decision from CA sets us back on that journey,” Rashid said.

“If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia, then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition,” Khan added.

Former captain Mohammed Nabi joined Rashid, saying, “I strongly condemned the decision of @CricketAus by pulling of the series and playing with us, through Cricket, we have shown the world if right opportunity & Platform given to Afghans we are no less then the rest of the world.”

CA released a statement on Tuesday stating it had consulted with the Australian government regarding the human rights conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan and had received information that there had been a “marked deterioration” in rights for women since they postponed the 2023 series.

“Over the past 12 months CA has continued to consult with the Australian government on the situation in Afghanistan. The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse. For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan,” the statement said.

“CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the ICC and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future,” it added.

Restrictions on female participation in sport arose in Afghanistan immediately after the Taliban seized control over the state in September 2021.