South Africa’s Sports Minister Supports Call for Afghanistan Cricket Boycott

South Africa’s Sports Minister Supports Call for Afghanistan Cricket Boycott

South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has expressed his support for the call to boycott the ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan. He has urged his country's cricket governing body to reconsider their decision to play against Afghanistan on February 21.

In a statement on Thursday, McKenzie said, "Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries, and the ICC (International Cricket Council) will have to think carefully about the message they wish to send to the world, and especially to women in sports." He further added, "It is not for me to decide whether South Africa should play against Afghanistan. If it were up to me, it certainly wouldn't happen."

Both South Africa and England are in the same group with Afghanistan in the one-day international (ODI) competition, and there is pressure to boycott the match in response to the Taliban government's crackdown on women’s rights in Afghanistan. South Africa is scheduled to play Afghanistan in Karachi on February 21, but McKenzie has urged his country’s cricket board not to honor the fixture.

He said, "As a man from a nation that was denied equal opportunities for its oppressed people during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to stay silent when the same is being done to women anywhere in the world."

Additionally, over 160 British politicians have signed a letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board, calling for a boycott of the match against Afghanistan.

In this context, England, South Africa, and Australia are the three teams scheduled to play against Afghanistan, and discussions regarding Afghanistan’s participation in world cricket are ongoing at the highest levels.